Trauma just sucks. I think our bodies store it until we're ready to process it, and then it releases it in bits. I totally agree with Firesprite. We minimize them to help store it away until we're ready to deal.
10 years...10 YEARS after my bad motorcycle wreck, I ended up on the back of a motorcycle, rolling through that same intersection I was hit in for the first time since the wreck. I got short of breath, shaky, and started sobbing uncontrollably.
Then, 15 years after my wreck, I came up upon on man on a bike who failed to negotiate a curve - he had lost control and slid. HE was fine, a wrecker was on the way...but the same thing happened. I thought I was going to puke in my helmet, was visibly shaking, and just sobbing.
It hasn't happened since - and I don't know if it's out of my system or not. I like to think with all the work we're doing, that these episodes are our bodies saying "welp, you're healthier, you're more stable, and you're ready to deal with this sh!t!"
THis is a cool article about it.
How to Release Painful Memories & Emotions Stored in Your Body
(((HUGS)))