Emotional flashback
why do I overreact to small things
An emotional flashback is the sudden return of the feeling-state of an old experience without a clear memory attached. It presents as a disproportionate reaction to a small trigger, which is why it is so often mistaken for simply overreacting.
What to do about it
Say today's date out loud. Anchoring to now is what ends it — the feeling is old, the moment is not.
Books that work on this
Each is a 90-day programme. Start with the first — later books assume the work in the earlier ones.
The Nervous System Blueprint$6.99
Sleep Or Die$6.99
Burnout Is Math$6.99
Cold Plunge Lie$6.99
The Battery Identity$6.99
No Backup Nervous$6.99
Recovery Is Required$6.99
The Calm Operator$6.99Part of the Nervous System series.
How people say it
Nobody looks this up by its clinical name. These are the ways it actually gets said.
- why do I overreact to small things
- I feel like a child again suddenly
- huge reaction out of nowhere
- old feelings come flooding back
- why does this tiny thing wreck me
- triggered but I do not know why
Written by Brian Spiker, who has run Spiker Carpet and Tile Care since 2013 — the receipts. More terms in the encyclopedia.