I (unfortunately) had a flashback last night, so I thought I would write out what it felt like so foster and adoptive parents of traumatized children can have a better understanding of what their children are going through when they have one. I have been dealing with flashbacks for years, so I cycled through the process pretty quickly. What I am describing over a period of an hour used to take me days to cycle through.

I have been very sick with a sinus infection and bronchitis. I cannot sleep if I cannot breathe through my nose. It is very triggering for me to breathe through my mouth.

Out of sheer desperation, I set up my pillows so I was lying on my back and sitting almost straight up and down. I hoped this would clear my sinuses. Instead, it triggered a flashback.

***** trigger warning – This information is graphic ******