Oy, flashbacks. Normally this forum just helps me remember, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. But as for flashbacks in public, those suck.
Sometimes the most ridiculous things can trigger me, I swear. I got triggered one time because a burlesque dancer got too close to me while I was watching my friend's band play at a club. Reminded me of smoosh piles with your peer group after the "big" exercise in a propheet. And that smell of sweat mixed with tears. God that was freaky. Especially since there was no smell to trigger that flashback at all, and the situation could be as far removed from that experience as you could imagine. It was the closeness and feeling like I was on the "hot seat", i.e. attention was being directed at me. That's what freaked me out.
Fortunately, double shots of tequila help *tremendously*.