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Let’s talk about flashbacks. Unfortunately, I’ve had a few. They were horrible & confusing. My training meant I understood what was happening (cue brain flitting between ‘I am having a flashback’ & ‘There’s a murderer in my back garden’ (TW: I discuss some details in this thread)
I was stood in my kitchen and all I could see was a massive blood stain on the fence of the back garden, my heart pounded, I didn’t know what was going on, I was terrified, I didn’t want to go out to investigate because I feared being hurt myself...
A week or so before someone had been arrested in my back garden after murdering someone. There had been blood stains on the ground. I was petrified but part of me also knew that I was having a flashback (and based on what patients tell me, quite a mild one)
So I forced myself to go and look outside ... there was a hole in the fence. My (red) car 
was parked behind it... that was the red colour I could see & that my brain registered as BLOOD, THREAT, SOMEONE DEAD, YOU COULD BE NEXT
was parked behind it... that was the red colour I could see & that my brain registered as BLOOD, THREAT, SOMEONE DEAD, YOU COULD BE NEXT
Why? Because at that point the memory was not processed. Trauma memories are not stored neatly in long term memory. They are fragmented, disjointed and easily triggered & because of the police investigation I didn’t know the whole story and couldn’t yet piece it together
Just seeing the colour red when I didn’t expect to was enough to make my brain register a massive threat. I ran round the house, grabbed my phone and was absolutely ready to call the police or start screaming for help
So, it is not so hard to believe that a lightweight mask could trigger a similar, or even stronger reaction in someone who has been raped or violently assaulted & someone cover their mouth, violating them & making them believe their next breath could be their last
I was lucky...I knew what it was. I saw a very lovely psychologist & my symptoms diminished quickly (rather text book: most within 4 weeks of the event and the rest within the following few months). Others suffer PTSD for many years & struggle to access effective treatments
So please... people who are struggling with masks because of PTSD deserve the utmost of compassion (and effective therapies - which can be very hard to access). These are not the people denying the seriousness of covid, protesting masks or spreading lies about the vaccines
Many people in this situation are avoiding going out altogether, relying on internet deliveries or other ppl to do essential shopping. They are not parading around the supermarket mask free, spreading lies about vaccines or shouting at NHS staff that COVID is a hoax.
Absolutely not ok to scorn, belittle or berate someone with PTSD in this situation. A little empathy and compassion goes a long way.
Also, pls no worries about me. I share my experiences in the hope it helps others understand flashbacks & have more compassion for those who have them. This happened over a decade ago & I made a full recovery. Stay safe, get the vaccine soon as you can & take care of eachother.
