I experience it both ways. My post traumatic stress stems from multiple experiences. I had a difficult childhood. I had a difficult military experience. Interestingly, my memories of one or the other come to me in entirely different fashions.

I don't believe it has anything to do with the passing of time because my manner of remembering my past has always been this way...

I don't remember my childhood as other people I think do. My memories are entirely associated with the emotion involved. I can't 'see' what is happening in an event but I feel it.

The traumatic events of my military career are the opposite. I can tell you in vivid detail the event. It replays in my head like an HD 3D movie. However, I don't feel the memory. Oh I can tell you I was scared at a particular event because I know I was but I don't feel it in the same way as I do those from childhood.

Some might ask, if you don't feel emotion then how is the memory distressing? I can't explain. The visions are still horrific whether I view them as a bystander or participant.