Is this a sign of a MH crisis?

[nagasakiSunset]

The last few days I keep getting sudden flashbacks to when I was either at school or much younger or even a very young child (for example at Christmas or playing in the garden). These just suddenly pop into my mind and they are often things I’d forgotten ? It’s like my mind is doing something strange ?

I’ve been extremely stressed lately and suffering with psychological exhaustion which has made me physically ill but this is a new symptom and it keeps happening. I think I know I need to just try to calm down about it but it’s just very strange and unnerving .

Has anyone experienced similar ? Is it just because of stress and it will likely pass?

I had this when I started perimenopause at the same time as my old primary school burned down. The combination of chemical changes and seeing my old school (which I loved and left too soon during a life changing chain of events) gave me regular flashbacks of all kinds of very vivid childhood memories.
They stopped after about 2 years.

Who knows, OP, but these read like good, happy memories of childhood,
nothing harmful or distressing? perhaps your memory bank is having a clearout,
as you are on overload at the moment?

Yes they are all happy/good memories , nothing bad it’s just unnerving me how it’s not the normal way I remember things ? As in something might prompt me usually eg I have some sweets and remember what treats I liked as a child then remember going to the fair and getting them. With these memories I can literally be cleaning the toilet and I’ll suddenly have a vivid flashback to a picnic we had in the garden one summer day and it’s like I’m actually there

I had something very similar when I was on maternity leave with my first (age 38). So a stressful time in that it was a huge lifestyle adjustment as an older mum, managing on very little sleep and having a baby with health issues. I'd have sudden, very vivid flashbacks to moments in my childhood, totally out of nowhere. Just silly, inconsequential things, but very detailed down to sounds and smells.

It didn't precede a breakdown, but it felt as if the mental earthquake of motherhood was shaking old memories out, if that makes sense.

Yes I’ve even had the smells ! It’s so strange isn’t it . I can only assume it’s just stress as it’s not bad it’s just so powerful ? It takes me by surprise and I think that’s what has been worrying me

Sorry, should have added that it went once I was back at work. So by that point I'd adjusted much more to the new reality of motherhood, plus the norm of being back at work. I think that helped my brain settle back down again.

If you've been stressed it's your brain bringing you comfort.

The fact that you're responding by freaking out and trying to suppress it will be making it stronger. When you try not to think about something, it stays in your brain.

You need to find ways to soothe your nervous system. When a memory pops up just let it wash over you instead of fighting it.

If it's unsettling you, you could also practise grounding techniques to help you re-connect with the present moment. Eg gently redirecting your attention to the sounds around you or noticing how your feet feel on the ground.

Personally I’d enjoy them.

I love a good romp through my memories, aromas and all.

Wow I could have written your post! Been happening to me lately but I have a baby and a toddler so I've put it down to sleep deprivation. Mine aren't particularly bad memories either, just random little flashbacks but they can be quite distracting when I'm in the middle of doing something else. Sometimes I let my mind wander and indulge in them to "unlock" memories and sometimes I try and stay a bit more grounded in the present.

I think I need to do this and just allow it to happen rather than thinking ‘oh no what’s this I’m literally putting the bins out why am I back to Xmas morning 1985’ or whatever it is 😂😂

maybe because a picnic in the garden is somewhere you would rather be?
the brain is a wondrous thing, amazing,
these are not alarming memories are they, we all have childhood
memories, some vivid, mine often alerted by scents, ie parma violets sweets,
fried onions, scent of carnations, then as you say, it is as though I am actually there,
transported,
Stress raises our awareness levels. Lower stress, memories will fade.
Are you perimenopausal perhaps. Worrying about memories and how you are remembering is adding to your stress, when they could be having a calming effect
if you can indulge them without analysis.
speaking to your GP is hopefully an option
I hope you have good responses here OP, but if you feel you are in a crisis,
there are places you can phone

Yes I think it could be perimenopause perhaps