Slo-mo Flashbacks?

[Privateer]

Okay, I'm not sure this is normal, so I thought I'd see if anyone else has ever had it.

I've had a few minor flashbacks in the past (thankfully they seem to have stopped) but two days ago, while walking through woodland with some colleagues on our way to inspect a dangerous cliff edge that's now in our area of responsibility I started to have problems keeping my mind on where I was.

The woodland we were in reminded me of somewhere from my army days and suddenly 'then' and 'now' began to slowly flow into one another. I could almost feel the rifle in my hands, the weight of my bergen and the awkward discomfort of the radio headset.

Shortly after that it was as though I could see other soldiers around me, patrolling along the track. I remained aware of where and when I really was, but it was becoming pretty difficult to keep that in mind and not just go along with what I was 'seeing'. Somehow the past seemed more comfortable and the experience was a little like sinking in to a sleep when tired; warm, safe and all but impossible to resist.

The whole business was very strange and only ended when one of my colleagues asked if I was alright, at which point I managed to pull myself together and noticed my hands were positioned as though carrying a rifle at high port. I told him I was fine and jokingly mimed shooting at the many pheasants and pigeons that our progress through the woods had disturbed.

I've never had anything like that before- only short flashes that were almost entirely visual- and would like to know if this sort of thing is 'normal'?

 

[maddog]

Yes, I have experienced something very similar, your explanation is very accurate and insightful. That slow, clumsy mental struggle to keep past separate from present is one I have battled with, and you're right about that seemingly irresistible "pull" of the past and its similarity to the pull of sleep. I sometimes experience this when triggered while very very tired, and to a point following an EMDR session when there just doesn't seem enough room in my brain for everything to fit, and no clear distinctions between the past and present segments.

Glad that talking and reengaging with something in the present was able to draw you back to reality.

Maddog

 

[Privateer]

Ah, so I'm not alone. That's a relief!

I think it was maybe because I was, as you say, very very tired. I'd been talking with some lifeboat crews the day before and had learned of some instances of deeply unprofessional behaviour by my erstwhile counterparts at our now-defunct neighbouring station.

That, combined with a more direct encounter with the consequences of that behaviour later in the day, had shaken me pretty badly and led to my drinking pretty heavily the previous night in a desperate- and ultimately unsuccessful- attempt to avoid bad dreams.