You’re walking through the grocery store, not paying attention to much else besides the list that’s in your hand. Your browsing through the aisle, trying to find a specific ingredient for a recipe that you planned to make – and then suddenly you were overcome with feelings of panic. Your mind starts racing, and for some reason unbeknownst to you, you’re taken back in time to a moment that was quite terrifying. The trauma you’d experienced many years ago has suddenly flashed over you, and the anxiety becomes so bad that you leave the store without buying what you originally came to get.
Flashbacks can happen anytime, anywhere, and unfortunately, they can take a major toll on our mental, physical and spiritual health. Flashbacks in and of themselves aren’t dangerous – but nobody likes to re-experience moments of trauma or undergo extreme panic in the middle of a seemingly peaceful day. Healthy Place, a website that publishes relevant information on psychology and various conditions, defines a flashback as, “Recurrent and abnormally vivid recollection of a traumatic experience, as a battle, sometimes accompanied by hallucinations.”
A common sign of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is to have flashbacks, along with other symptoms such as:
- Nightmares
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Depression or irritability
- Isolation
- Easily startled
- And more
One individual shared their personal experience with having a flashback via The Mighty, a website that publishes personal experiences by those overcoming mental illness and related disorders. They stated, “…For me, things like the smell of cologne my perpetrator wore, the sound of a toilet flushing, the sight of white briefs, even something as simple as sunscreen can send me into an episode.”
If you believe you may have PTSD, it’s important to seek help – because not receiving treatment could lead to the development of either worse symptoms or of new conditions altogether, such as with substance use disorders (SUDs).
If you’re ready to begin taking great strides towards your health and wellbeing, speak with a professional from Alta Loma today. Mental illness should be taken seriously and, if not treated early on, more severe conditions can arise. The best way to promote happiness and health is to seek help – and to begin using effective interventions for treating the problematic symptoms a person is experiencing. Don’t wait any longer to seek the help you need. Please call Alta Loma today – and you’ll be surrounded by a healthcare team who truly cares about your recovery. 866-457-3843.
