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The Living Hell of Emotional Flashbacks
The Living Hell of Emotional Flashbacks
In our last article, we discussed the differences between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). One of these dissimilarities involves the living hell of emotional flashbacks.
In this piece, we shall examine the definition of emotional flashbacks and ways to manage them.
Should you become overwhelmed during this piece, please stop reading and do some grounding exercises. Afterward, put it aside and take this piece with you to your therapist’s office to read it together. As always, safety is primary.
What are Emotional Flashbacks?
According to Pete Walker, emotional flashbacks are a complex mixture of intense and confusing reliving of past traumas from childhood. It is like living a nightmare while you are awake, with overwhelming sorrow, toxic shame, and a sense of inadequacy.
Filled with confusing and distressing emotions from the past, an emotional flashback is extremely painful.
