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As we enter another week of uncertainty and anxiety around the COVID-19 pandemic, it might be helpful to know about the concept of Emotional Flashbacks, a psychological phenomenon that seems to be affecting many of us.
A thread
A thread
Emotional flashbacks are âintensely disturbing regressions [âamygdala hijackingsâ] to overwhelming feeling-states,â often originating in childhood.
Itâs when your
is transported to unsafe, traumatic times, even if *intellectually,* you know youâre not actually threatened now.
Itâs when your
is transported to unsafe, traumatic times, even if *intellectually,* you know youâre not actually threatened now.
Being stuck in an emotional flashback can bring up intense fear, panic, shame, depression, etc.
You feel small, vulnerable, and helpless. All that effort/years spent building a life seem to get washed away as you feel trapped, forced to re-live the worst moments of your past.
You feel small, vulnerable, and helpless. All that effort/years spent building a life seem to get washed away as you feel trapped, forced to re-live the worst moments of your past.
Iâve noticed a lot of friends/tweets talking about elements of this lately.
The pandemic is surfacing a lot of old experiences, e.g. oppressive boredom/loneliness, neglect/abandonment, and abuse.
But flashbacks CAN be managed, hereâs how:
The pandemic is surfacing a lot of old experiences, e.g. oppressive boredom/loneliness, neglect/abandonment, and abuse.
But flashbacks CAN be managed, hereâs how:
First, recognize the signs and say to yourself, âI am having a flashback.â
Acknowledge the feeling, (âI feel afraidâ) and ground yourself (â... but I am actually safe. I am in the present, not trapped in my pastâ).
Acknowledge the feeling, (âI feel afraidâ) and ground yourself (â... but I am actually safe. I am in the present, not trapped in my pastâ).
Remind yourself that youâre an adult now, and that you have far more capabilities, resources, and power â to draw boundaries, protect yourself, have control of your own life.
Thatâs cause for celebration & gratitude
Thatâs cause for celebration & gratitude
Ease back into your body. Try to relax, take deep breaths, find comfort in a soft blanket, etc.
Be patient with yourself. Recovery takes time (even in ânormalâ times), and experiencing flashbacks doesnât mean thereâs anything âwrongâ with you.
Be patient with yourself. Recovery takes time (even in ânormalâ times), and experiencing flashbacks doesnât mean thereâs anything âwrongâ with you.
Lastly, lean on your support networks. Shame makes it difficult to reach out, but there will always be someone to help.
(Therapy, if itâs available to you, is of course another great resource.)
(Therapy, if itâs available to you, is of course another great resource.)
We donât know how much longer this pandemic will last, and canât even begin to estimate the mental health impact of the global population.
In the meantime, we can be kinder and gentler, to others & ourselves. Hopefully, learning to recognize and process flashbacks will help
In the meantime, we can be kinder and gentler, to others & ourselves. Hopefully, learning to recognize and process flashbacks will help
The above is adapted from âComplex PTSDâ by Pete Walker, Chapter 8, âManaging Emotional Flashbacksâ
If this thread resonates, I highly recommend getting the book
(and follow @tinywisdoms for similar content!)
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/complex-ptsd-from-surviving-to-thriving-a-guide-and-map-for-recovering-from-childhood-trauma/9781492871842
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2V4zoQT
If this thread resonates, I highly recommend getting the book
(and follow @tinywisdoms for similar content!)
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/complex-ptsd-from-surviving-to-thriving-a-guide-and-map-for-recovering-from-childhood-trauma/9781492871842
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2V4zoQT
