There are times when survivors of a severely traumatic event feel as though they are actually back in that place and time, experiencing the trauma all over again. These experiences are called flashbacks. Flashbacks can materialize in a number of ways to victims of trauma including certain images, smells, sounds, dreams, overwhelming emotions, and body sensations. When survivors of sexual violence have a flashback, they are reliving the past experiences much as though it is happening all over again, at least in one form or another.
Most flashbacks last no longer than a passing moment but others can be long and arduous as well as very powerful. Survivors of rape may not even know that they are having a flashback at the time and may simply appear to be "out of it" or unresponsive.