Understanding and dealing with Flashbacks

I am reblogging this post of mine for new followers. Often when we are in a flashback we do not know it.. we can learn to understand and manage flashbacks in time when we develop insight.

Emerging From The Dark Night

When we have undergone trauma or a traumatic childhood it is really important information to have, knowing when our nervous systems is being reactivated by a trigger which is launching us into an unconscious flashback.  The recovery writer John Lee has referred to such flashbacks as age regressions, periods of feeling suddenly very small, overwhelmed, flooded with feelings not easy to recognise, feeling hopeless, helpless or ashamed, feeling like you want to run and hide, experiencing an increased or accelerated heart rate, difficulty breathing, an activation of critical, shaming thoughts and comments from the inner critic or an internalised shaming voice.

Indeed a flash back also seems from what I have read recently to be accompanied by many of the same symptoms and affects as an anxiety or panic attack.   In his book on Complex PTSD Pete Walker devotes an entire chapter to Flashbacks and provides essential information on dealing with and understanding flashbacks as well as…

View original post 1,363 more words