Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group

"A significant percentage of adults who suffered ongoing abuse or neglect in childhood suffer from Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. One of the most difficult features of this type of PTSD is extreme susceptibility to painful emotional flashbacks. Emotional flashbacks are sudden and often prolonged regressions ('amygdala hijackings') to the frightening circumstances of childhood. They are typically experienced as intense and confusing episodes of fear and/or despair - or as sorrowful and/or enraged reactions to this fear and despair. Emotional flashbacks are especially painful because the inner critic typically overlays them with toxic shame, inhibiting the individual from seeking comfort and support, isolating him in an overwhelming and humiliating sense of defectiveness.

Because most emotional flashbacks do not have a visual or memory component to them, the triggered individual rarely realizes that she is re-experiencing a traumatic time from childhood."

I highly recommend that anyone with CPTSD check out this site. I had no idea what I was experiencing were emotional flashbacks until I stumbled upon this site. I've been having emotional flashbacks since I was in my early teens but was misdiagnosed with panic attacks since they look similar on the outside. Most therapists and doctors have never heard of emotional flashbacks, even those familiar with trauma. I use Pete's advice on getting through emotional flashbacks and it has helped me tremendously.