Dream flashbacks might occur infrequently, intermittently, or for hours or even days at a time. Dream flashbacks can occur before, during, or after an increase of other anxiety sensations and symptoms, or they can occur on their own. While awake, you may not be aware of what was going on in your dreams until after it happens. When you do become aware of a flashback in your dream, it will most likely feel real while it is happening. Flashbacks are memories that come back into your mind when you sleep. These memories may be pleasant experiences from your past or unpleasant experiences from the day before. In either case, they are memories that remain trapped in your unconscious mind. Although you may think that you control your own actions, feelings, and thoughts, you actually don't. Your body, mind, and spirit are part of one whole entity: the soul. The soul is who you really are regardless of any physical or emotional limitations caused by illness, injury, or birth. Your soul is made up of three parts: the conscious mind, the subconscious mind, and the spiritual self. The conscious mind is the part of you that thinks, decides, remembers, and anticipates. It is also the part of you that communicates with the outside world through speech, writing, and other forms of communication. The subconscious mind is like an information storage system.