Did I have a flashback?

[karalei]

I'm a survivor of child sexual abuse, and just recently got diagnosed with PTSD after a trigger launched my trauma all over again. I've been experiencing nightmares and unwanted memories throughout the day. Waking up from the nightmares are brutal, and I have to calm myself for about an hour. Sometimes, I don't even go back to sleep. I can deal with the memories throughout the day. Usually, I try to breathe and calm myself from anxiety, especially when I am at work.

Yesterday, I think I experienced a flashback. I was sitting at my desk, and I could hear a conversation my coworkers were having nearby. One of them kept repeating a word, and I suddenly felt my chest getting tighter as my heart started to pound heavily. My vision was starting to get dark, and as I tried to look around, it felt like my presence was suddenly being pulled away. Their conversation sounded muffled, and then that's when I heard it. My abuser's voice in my ear. It was clear and struck fear inside me. It felt like he was standing right next to me about to molest me again. I started to feel panicked and tried to remember what my therapist told me about grounding techniques. So, after much effort, I slowly came back to the present...hands shaking, my heart still beating hard and fast as I tried to take deep breaths.

Was that a flashback? If so, I'm planning on bringing it up with my therapist for my next session.

 

[EveHarrington]

I think that regardless of what it’s technically called, you should bring up this episode with your therapist.

 

[AskaTheFox]

I think that regardless of what it’s technically called, you should bring up this episode with your therapist.

Agreed with the above. I would bring it up with the the therapist.

In this case, that sounds like what I would consider a flashback.