Why Do Flashbacks Feel Physically Real?

Flashbacks can feel physically real because traumatic memories are often stored with more than just thoughts and images. They may also include body sensations, emotions, and survival responses that were present during the original event. When a flashback is triggered, those sensations can become active again. As a result, a person may experience physical reactions such as a racing heart, muscle tension, nausea, pain, dizziness, or a feeling of danger even though the traumatic event is not happening in the present.

This does not mean the event is happening again. It means the brain and body are responding to the memory as though the danger is current. Because these physical sensations are being experienced in the present moment, flashbacks can feel very real.

This page is part of the What Is Dissociation? section of the CommuniDID site, which explains how dissociation works and why it develops.

Explore related topics:

• Questions about dissociation
• Why Can Trauma Survivors Feel Disconnected from Their Own Experiences?
• Try This When a Flashback Hits
• This Sense Can Interrupt Flashbacks
• Why Do Flashbacks Feel Like They Are Happening Now?

Have a question this page didn’t answer? Click “Yes” or “No” below and a comment box will appear where you can leave your question. Comments are reviewed but not made public.