What you are describing is something that I have experienced, and still do.

For me, I've understood them to be emotional flashbacks.

Someone shared a quote from a book by Pete Walker in another thread and it spoke much truth to me. He talks about emotional flashbacks and explains them in a way that I can understand.

It gives me hope for healing.

Here's his website.

http://pete-walker.com/

There is a lot of good information there. On the left are links where he describes and talks about different parts of Complex PTSD.

For me, I believe that is what I'm trying to recover from

Also, here is a book, by him, that has been invaluable to me.

Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving: A GUIDE AND MAP FOR RECOVERING FROM CHILDHOOD TRAUMA https://www.amazon.com/dp/1492871842..._vQlJzbZDY3WKX

It has become a reference book for me.