PTSD isn’t just flashbacks. while a lot of movies, books, games etc equate post traumatic stress disorder to having extremely vivid flashbacks in which one thinks the trauma is happening again, this is not the only symptom of PTSD, nor is it a requirement for having the disorder.
other symptoms of PTSD include
problems sleeping
nightmares
hypervigilance (constantly checking surroundings for safety, looking for any possible threat)
being easily startled
being emotionally numb or not experiencing joy
seeing the world as a terrible place
memory loss
trouble relating to others
physiological or strong emotional reactions to reminders of trauma
intrusive thoughts about the trauma
(full list of criteria here)
flashbacks are not the be all and end all of PTSD. it’s a much more complex disorder than it’s portrayed in a lot of media, nor is it military exclusive. i hope this post can at least help educate some people beyond the incomplete and in some cases outright wrong information that a lot of people have.
