by: Laura West

“Why Is My Body Freaking Out, Even Though I’m Safe?” You’re sitting in a meeting, folding laundry, or scrolling your phone when suddenly: Your chest tightens Your heart pounds Your body feels frozen—or like it wants to run Panic or nausea hits—but there’s no obvious cause You check in with your thoughts, and nothing “bad” is happening. But your body? It’s in full-blown alarm mode. What you’re experiencing may be a somatic flashback—and if you’re a survivor of childhood abuse or complex trauma, they’re more common than you might think. This post will walk you through the science of somatic flashbacks, how they differ from emotional or visual ones, and most importantly, how to manage them safely and start building body-based trust again.