During a flashback, someone might appear physically distressed and disoriented, displaying signs like a blank "thousand-yard stare," trembling, sweating, rapid breathing, or sudden movements as if reliving a trauma (ducking, freezing), all while feeling intensely that the past event is happening now, making them seem confused or disconnected from their present surroundings. They may also seem emotionally overwhelmed with fear, rage, or numbness, struggling to focus or communicate clearly.
PTSD flashbacks often involve intense emotional and physical distress: Panic or Anxiety: The person might display signs of panic, such as clutching their chest, hyperventilating, or exhibiting a look of terror. These reactions are the body's way of responding to the perceived threat from the flashback[5].
What are flashbacks?
Dissociative flashbacks are often characterized by a feeling of detachment from oneself or the world. During these episodes, individuals may feel as if they are observing the traumatic event from a distance or even experiencing it from a third-person perspective.
The thousand-yard stare (also referred to as two-thousand-yard stare) is the blank, unfocused gaze of people experiencing dissociation due to acute stress or traumatic events.
Here's something interesting: researchers have found that trauma often affects the physical appearance of the eyes. People with a history of childhood trauma tend to develop physical traits around the eyes that are different from those who haven't experienced such deep emotional wounds.
When our brain then recognises similarities between our present situation and our past trauma (e.g. a colour, smell or noise), it can activate the fight, flight, freeze, flop or friend response, even if we're not currently in danger.
Here are some subtle signs you might be experiencing a trauma flashback.
Tips on helping someone who is experiencing a flashback
If you have complex PTSD you may be particularly likely to experience what some people call an 'emotional flashback', in which you have intense feelings that you originally felt during the trauma, such as fear, shame, sadness or despair.
These flashbacks can be accompanied by intense emotional reactions, such as fear, anxiety, or anger. They can also cause physical reactions, such as a racing heart, difficulty breathing, or a feeling of detachment from the body.
Hear sounds or words associated with the event. Experience physical sensations, such as pain or like you're being touched. Undergo the same emotions or body reactions, such as sweating or a racing heartbeat. Feel confused about what's happening during the flashback.
Flashbacks usually happen suddenly, without warning. They are vivid memories of a traumatic event that feel like they are happening now. You may re-experience what you saw, heard, smelt, felt and your body's reactions, such as a fast heartbeat. They can last from seconds to hours.
If you have DID, you might feel or experience the following:
How to Identify a Dissociative State. From an outside perspective, dissociation may look like daydreaming: someone with glazed eyes, inattentive demeanor, or deep in thought. Other times, it might manifest as heightened emotional responses, such as appearing frightened without an apparent threat.
Dissociation is also a normal way of coping during traumatic events. For example, some people may dissociate while experiencing war, kidnapping or during a medical emergency. In situations we can't physically get away from, dissociation can protect us from distress.
There are several common things that can trigger trauma responses, including flashbacks, and they include: Sensory triggers, or sounds, smells, sights, textures that remind one of the event.
Flashbacks come in all lengths, from many pages to a handful of lines. When you're deciding how much space to devote to a scene from the past, consider its importance. A flashback that reveals something unexpected may need more space than one that simply illustrates a reality about the character's past.
Visual Flashbacks are when the person sees parts of the traumatic events as if they are watching a movie. These can be intense and vivid, or fragmented and cause confusion. Auditory Flashbacks involve sounds such as hearing noises that are not present, voices, or vibrations.
They may be impulsive, acting before they think. Aggressive behaviors also include complaining, "backstabbing," being late or doing a poor job on purpose, self-blame, or even self-injury. Many people with PTSD only use aggressive responses to threat.
The highest form of PTSD is considered extreme PTSD, often manifesting as Complex PTSD. It involves chronic symptoms, emotional detachment, and deep psychological distress from prolonged trauma.
Identifying Your Personal PTSD Triggers