It's a little complicated, for me. First, I have acute trauma from when I was 17, and complex trauma from childhood.

With the acute trauma, they are color or just sensory (usually call these body memories). I am also one that has dreams in color, which I know not everyone does.

With the complex trauma, it's difficult. I am also diagnosed DID. Mostly, I think it would sensory, but not in the same way as the acute. With the complex, I will suddenly go into panic mode, without any external reason, and I can't figure out why until I've calmed down, usually.

They are triggered in similar ways as other flashbacks. Something that most people consider innocuous, like a scent or a statement.