Flashbacks: Reel Life versus Real Life

Memories play a significant role in shaping the personality of an individual. Both consciously and subconsciously, they are pivotal in forming mindsets in different aspects of life. In other words, the behavior of an individual is defined based on the moments they have lived.

“We don’t remember days, we remember moments.” —Cesare Pavese

Glimpses of memories continue to run through the mind, not only for a day, week, or year but sometimes for an entire lifetime. We have memories not only of real life but also of reel life, and both have a pronounced impact on the psyche of an individual.

Flashbacks in Storytelling

The on-screen flashback is a narrative technique used in visual media (film, drama, etc.) to shift the story temporarily to a bygone occurrence. It deepens the emotional impact of a situation by revealing past events. Flashbacks are often accompanied by visual effects like changes in color tone, blurring, or a transition effect to indicate a shift to the past.

The narrative becomes powerful when flashbacks are used timely in storytelling. They reveal sensitive and crucial moments from a character’s past, helping in character development by allowing the audience to better understand the scenarios associated with that character and fostering empathy. Flashbacks not only reveal backstory but also foreshadow future events at times. They add spice to the story by introducing twists, and audiences piece together the surprises revealed to get the full picture.

The crystal nature of life is illustrated by the contrast and comparison of present and past events. When used carefully, flashbacks make the story more dynamic by contributing to a non-linear narrative structure. They break the monotony of the main action by offering a moment of reflection, and the scenes gain power by adding emotional resonance and nostalgic feelings.

Flashbacks in Real Life

In real life, flashbacks are unintentional and allow individuals to process memories, understand their present actions, and make sense of their experiences by revisiting significant moments from their past. In psychology, an immediate and clear re-experience of a past traumatic event, triggered by something in the present environment, is called a flashback. Flashbacks are often linked with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which results from exposure to an emotionally intense situation. PTSD is often accompanied by depression and anxiety, affecting the overall quality of life, including work, studies, and relationships. People may develop avoidance behaviors, limiting opportunities for healthy interactions and growth, potentially leading to complete isolation.

These intrusive memories can be so intense that the person feels the same emotions, disturbances, and even physical reactions they experienced at the time. The person becomes unconscious of their surrounding environment and relives a scenario that happened years before, resulting in distress and disorientation of their psyche. What gives certain memories the power to become flashbacks is their unresolved nature. Sometimes, even a smell or sound can trigger them. Moreover, these re-experiences are unintentional, so the responses are uncontrolled. The greater the frequency of flashbacks, the harder recovery becomes.

Only the person experiencing flashbacks can truly explain the pain associated with them. The picture of the past event becomes clear in their mind, followed by a gust of emotions, an increased heart rate, and sweating. To help individuals process past events completely and alleviate throbbing flashbacks, psychologists use cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).

Theories explaining flashbacks include trauma theory, cognitive theory, behavioral theories, biological theories, and attachment theory. Trauma theory explains the aftermath of traumatic events, guiding professionals toward appropriate treatments based on the nature of the trauma and the range of responses. Cognitive theory focuses on the idea that thinking patterns lead to emotional arousal and that the nature of thoughts determines healthy behavior. Behavioral theories are based on the idea that people learn through interactions with their surroundings, and their behaviors are conditioned through reinforcement and punishment. Biological theories emphasize phenomena related to living organisms. Attachment theory deals with relationships between human beings, particularly the connection between infants and their primary caregivers.

Flashbacks in Reel Life and Real Life

Whether considering flashbacks in reel life or real life, there is a challenge of balancing narrative and therapy, respectively. If not integrated well, the storyline becomes unbalanced in the mind of the viewer, and the healing process can be hindered in real life.

In reel life, the misinterpretation of flashbacks creates confusion about the characters and the plot. In real life, flashbacks are often considered overreactions, adding to the stigma faced by individuals. The element of distress is greater in real-life flashbacks, while they add to the glamour of the story in reel life. This is because they are controlled in reel life but uncontrolled in real life, bringing traumatic revisits of past events. Emotional outbursts are also seen in real-life flashbacks, whereas in storytelling, they are well-crafted to elicit responses.

To conclude, flashbacks add clarity to the story on-screen but blur the mind in real life. As one says:

“It’s not the goodbye that hurts, but the flashbacks that follow.”

The writer, Syeda Khair-ul-Bariyah, is a PhD scholar and Assistant Professor (Chemistry College Section) at FCCU, Lahore.

You can also read: How childhood trauma can impact the emotional well-being