What are flashbacks?

A flashback is when someone goes back to a memory from long ago, like stepping into an old picture book.

Imagine you're eating your favorite cookie, maybe chocolate chip or peanut butter, and suddenly you're back in the kitchen with Grandma, watching her mix up a big bowl of dough. That’s a flashback! It happens when something reminds you of a moment from the past, and all of a sudden, you’re there again.

Think of your brain like a time machine. When you smell cookies baking or hear a familiar song, it's like pressing a button that takes you back to an old memory. You might be sitting in your living room, but you're also in Grandma’s kitchen, all at once! That’s how flashbacks work: they let you live a moment from the past right in the middle of the present.

Sometimes people have flashbacks because they’re thinking about something important or feeling a strong emotion. It's like when you close your eyes and suddenly you're playing with your best friend again, even if it’s been years!