Emotional Flashback

[LeoTheLion]

I am new to CPTSD myself which I was just being DX by it (for now its PTSD since CPTSD isnt published yet in DSM) I have noticed around here in forums people talk about emotional flashback. I am not sure if I really understand what it is. I do know memories flashback but emotional flashback is kind of new to me.. Anyone mind explain what is emotional flashback?

 

[Abrasky]

I have memories that are the emotional and physical. The physical part of the memory I remember, but the emotional part due to trauma has been forgotton. So I have a memory of my mum being screamed at but can't remember how I felt so afraid, sad and distressed by it until I got back the memories later. With my PTSD most of my flashbacks have come from these emotional memories I think. Fear was my worst emotional memory I think, because it was so intense, and having fear flashbacks all day was really hard on my nerves, so much so I couldn't leave my house for a month at the start of my treatment.

 

[Alkaline Dragon]

I have memories that are the emotional and physical. The physical part of the memory I remember, but the emotional part due to trauma has been forgotton. So I have a memory of my mum being screamed at but can't remember how I felt so afraid, sad and distressed by it until I got back the memories later. With my PTSD most of my flashbacks have come from these emotional memories I think. Fear was my worst emotional memory I think, because it was so intense, and having fear flashbacks all day was really hard on my nerves, so much so I couldn't leave my house for a month at the start of my treatment.

When you have these emotional flashbacks of fear/anxiety, to you try to attribute it to things currently going on in your life because you don't realize that it's a " flash back "? Like, do you ever not realize that it's an emotional flashback, and just don't understand why you feel so awful?

 

[Darkness Shines]

Like, do you ever not realize that it's an emotional flashback, and just don't understand why you feel so awful?

When I suddenly feel awful for no logical reason I just assume it's an emotional flashback. Later when I'm feeling better I can generally figure out that the feelings relate to the abuse somehow. So, yeah, it's easy to not understand what's going on when you have an emotional flashback. I had no idea what was going on until my husband did some research last year.

 

[Sterre]

Hi there LeotheLion!

I've found this article very clarifiyng, it's on the main page of the forum, a big part of it is about emotional flashbacks.
( I'm not sure if it's alowed to hyperlink but here it is;[DLMURL]http://www.ptsdforum.org/complex-ptsd-cptsd/complex-ptsd-and-emotional-flashbacks.html[/DLMURL])

 

[Iam]

So, yeah, it's easy to not understand what's going on when you have an emotional flashback. I had no idea what was going on until my husband did some research last year.

Emotional flashbacks are so common with C-PTSD and can be very difficult to peg down Leo. I started with learning to recognize the physical symptoms of an emotional flashback. For me it usually starts as butterflies in my stomach or I get teary all of a sudden. As soon as I recognize one of these symptoms I start trying to peg down what I was thinking about and then the specific thoughts I was having.

I am now learning about my frozen ego states and can occassionally place what state the emotional flashback is coming from, i.e. the 7 year old girl or maybe the teenager. My critical state is way over active which I think is probably true for most of us) and is pretty easy to identify.

Keep working at it Leo, you will soon start to be able to recognize what is going on and when you do, then you will be able to talk back to those old negative tapes that are playing in your head.

HUGS,
Lauren

 

[Abrasky]

When you have these emotional flashbacks of fear/anxiety, to you try to attribute it to things currently going on in your life because you don't realize that it's a " flash back "? Like, do you ever not realize that it's an emotional flashback, and just don't understand why you feel so awful?/quote] Yes I didn't realise the emotional flashback wasn't currently in my life. It sought of felt like I was scared to go outside because what was happeneing to me when I was 9 was happeneing outside. Emotional flashbacks make it hard for me to say this is not happening right now, I think.

 

[Abstract]

Thank you, Leo. All a bit of a revelation and makes so much sense. Knowledge helps so much.

I am then assuming that an "emotional flashback" is a flashback without an image or other senses involved (aroma, sound etc) that it is purely emotional but has a strong impact in a way where one is experiencing it again.. ?

Good luck.