FLASHBACK DISCRIMINATION
A flashback can make a past threat feel as though it is happening now. The body may react before the thinking mind has had time to locate the present.
This one-page worksheet gently compares “then” and “now”. It creates space for the place, time, sensory cues, choices, supports and safety information that distinguish the present from the traumatic memory.
The grounding column offers a simple route back to the room: orienting through the senses, feeling the floor and naming the present. The aim is not to force the memory away, but to help the nervous system recognise current information.
Use this at a manageable pace, preferably within trauma-informed therapy. If the exercise becomes overwhelming, pause and return to stabilisation, connection or professional support.
With warmth,
Maggie
Space to Breathe Therapy
This printable is a reflective aid and does not replace assessment, diagnosis or personalised professional care.
