[merlin888]

For about a year I’ve been getting frequent flashbacks that I’ve never experienced before and I’m concerned they might be a symptom of a problem.

They are:
A few dozen a day
Brief – just a few seconds each
Seemingly random – they don’t seem to relate to what I’m thinking or doing at the time
Random memories from childhood up tp a few years ago
Memories of really ordinary events like driving somewhere, going into a shop etc

They are not upsetting memories and they do not upset me now

They only started around a year ago.

The major trauma in my life was about 3 years ago when i needed an op and ended up in a wheelchair, my wife of 3 ½ years left me when I was discharged from hospital and a month later I was made redundant. My moods were low and dark to start with but have gradually improved. Losing my job has just become an irritation, the disability is more a practical issue than an emotion one but it does still upset me. What still upsets me most is being deserted by my wife. Initially it was a sense of loss and grief but that has given way to being aggrieved because she never contacts me – not even a xmas or birthday card ot to ask how i am and i find that upsetting. The separation was undramatic, not based on any particular event and driven by her.

I am 49, male and English.

Does anyone know what’s causing this and should it worry me? Is it some kind of PTSD or just the subconscious having a clearout and trying to ‘balance the books’?

Thanks.

[Thunder Bow]

You never had a real relationship with your wife. She was only depending on you for an income. Now reality is showing its ugly face about her. The flashbacks mean you are healing from this and the trauma.

[merlin888]

Originally Posted by Thunder Bow

You never had a real relationship with your wife. She was only depending on you for an income. Now reality is showing its ugly face about her. The flashbacks mean you are healing from this and the trauma.

I can see where you're coming from but she has her own job and was paid about the same as me. Money hasn't been a factor at all.

It would be good if the flashbacks are part of a healing process. I can't work out why they don't seem to be related to any of the bad experiences I've had, why they are so random and why they are fairly bland memories.

[Thunder Bow]

Because they are healing memories. You mind is posting your feelings for you to see, in the flashbacks. You wife wanted Your Money and support. When you were disabled, she felt she could not get that any more. She also felt she had no social status by being married to you, when you became disabled.

[IceCreamKid]

I hope this helps. You should mention this to your doctor. It may not be related to your physical health, but this sort of change should be noted in your medical records in case you get other symptoms later down the road.

[Durra]

I had flashbacks about my past up until I was twelve. They were very random like me at four crossing the road but left the small plastic stool in the middle of the road when we were preparing to move out. It was yellow and has different colored legs. My sister was playing in the background, I was running to her. It gets more vivid when I look through red or blue tinted objects. Another clearer one is once I looked out the car window when I six, it was raining and I could see tiny rainbows in the droplets on the screen. Also when I was two, I broke my navy blue plastic spoon during lunch.. I was sitting on a round wooden table with twenty or so kids in a nursery.

It wasn't bad and doesn't obstruct my work, but you had a trauma before so I think it's better for you to mention that to your doctor like what @IceCreamKid suggested. You'll be fine. ^^