Night terrors and flashbacks are the brain’s way of processing pain, even if they often arrive with sudden waves of fear and confusion. For many, these experiences can feel isolating, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the memories that surface.

Today, we’re going to look at an alternative perspective—a way to look at night terrors and flashbacks that might offer a touch of reassurance, even empowerment. The idea we’ll explore together is that your brain, in its powerful instinct to keep you safe, only reveals what it believes you’re ready to handle.

Understanding Night Terrors

Night terrors are intense and often feel like nightmares that break through into wakefulness. While they don’t last long, their effects can linger. A night terror can seem like an unstoppable flood of fear, leaving you feeling as if you’re reliving something terrible or like you’re trapped in an inexplicable dread. For survivors, these moments are not only upsetting but can also create a sense of being ‘betrayed' by their own minds, as if their brain is working against them.

However, it can be helpful to remember that our brain’s primary function is to protect and preserve us. Just as it regulates our breathing and digestion without our conscious input, it manages memories and emotions, sometimes even shielding us from traumatic details until it believes we’re ready to confront them. The process may not be perfect, and it can feel anything but gentle. But when we consider that night terrors might be the brain’s attempt to release only what we can process, there is a sense of trust between our mind and our inner resilience.

Reframing Night Terrors as Trust

Imagine that night terrors are not something done to you, but rather, something shared with you by a brain that believes you can manage this next step. Though it’s understandable if this idea feels difficult or uncomfortable, it can also offer a way to view these episodes with slightly less fear. Night terrors may never feel easy, but with time, they might feel less overpowering when we acknowledge that our mind is releasing only what it believes we’re ready to face. This shift from feeling ‘betrayed’ to feeling entrusted can be grounding. It’s as if your brain is saying, “You’re stronger than you think. I believe you’re ready to process this, bit by bit.”

Understanding and Reframing Flashbacks

Flashbacks are another way the brain can attempt to process traumatic experiences. They can feel like sudden, vivid memories that transport you back to moments you’d rather not relive. Often, a flashback can be triggered by something unexpected—a sound, a smell, or even a phrase—that brings buried memories rushing forward, creating a sense of being stuck in the past.

The mind has its reasons for these moments, even if it feels hard to accept. Flashbacks can be part of the brain’s way of slowly and carefully revisiting what happened. Just like with night terrors, the brain seems to release fragments of memory when it believes you have the capacity to bear them, even if it doesn’t feel that way at the time. Though challenging, there is strength in realizing that these moments may not be random; they might actually be signs of your resilience, showing that you’re gradually ready to acknowledge, process, and release some of the pain that’s been held tightly.

Embracing Compassion in the Process

It’s natural to feel powerless or unsettled by night terrors and flashbacks, but each experience is an opportunity to practice self-compassion. Every time these memories arise, know that you are not alone; your mind is working hard to help you heal, and every small step forward, every moment of resilience, is a victory. Kristin Neff, a pioneer in self-compassion, reminds us that true compassion means treating ourselves with the same gentleness and patience we would offer a dear friend. If flashbacks or night terrors arise, try placing a hand over your heart, breathing deeply, and saying, “This is difficult, but I am safe now, and I am strong enough to face this.”

A Healing Perspective

Though these experiences may never feel comfortable, embracing this view can slowly make them feel less threatening. It’s about giving yourself permission to trust in your mind’s process and acknowledging your strength in facing each memory, each feeling, each step forward. Bit by bit, as your brain reveals what it believes you’re ready to process, you’re working toward a fuller sense of peace and healing.

Your journey is one of courage. And even in those moments that feel too heavy, remember—you’ve already come so far, and with each step, you’re moving closer to a place of safety and calm within yourself. You deserve that peace, and it is on its way to you, one breath, one memory, one gentle moment at a time.