When the Past Knocks Unexpectedly

It happened on an ordinary Tuesday. I was in line at a coffee shop, scrolling through my phone, when a certain song came on. A song I hadn’t heard in years. And suddenly, I wasn’t in that coffee shop anymore I was back in a room I tried so hard to forget. My chest tightened. My hands shook. The noise around me faded, replaced by memories I never invited.

That’s the thing about PTSD flashbacks they don’t come with a warning. They creep in through the cracks, triggered by a scent, a sound, a look. Sometimes, even silence can bring them on. It’s not dramatic. It’s disorienting. It makes you feel like time has betrayed you.

But here’s what I’ve learned: just because the past shows up doesn’t mean you’re back there. It’s a memory, not a return. And every time I survive one of those moments and I do survive I get stronger. Even if it doesn’t feel like strength in the moment.

To anyone going through this: you are not broken. You are navigating a mind that’s doing its best to protect you from pain. And healing? It’s not a straight path. It’s full of days like that random Tuesday days that catch you off guard and test your progress. But every step you take, even the shaky ones, is still forward.

You’re not alone. You’re not weak. You’re a survivor growing, healing, and learning to find peace in the chaos.

And the next time the past knocks? You’ll be ready with compassion, courage, and the quiet strength of someone who refuses to give up.