If you’ve ever wondered why do I flinch when someone raises their arm, you are not alone. Many people share this trait and often have to hide their flinching when they’re confronted with new situations. Sometimes a flinch is just a form of mumbling or speaking very quietly. It might even have gotten you kicked out of night classes!
For example, if you’ve been abused physically, a hand raised in innocent conversation could evoke memories of that abuse, and you may flinch when someone raises their arm. Fear is a phantom past that haunts us even when we haven’t experienced it ourselves. This fear can also affect those who have never experienced physical abuse. It could have been a painful memory that was triggered by watching someone else get hit, which created a neural pathway linking the thought of a raised hand and pain.
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