The 'morning ruminative state', with the at times accompanying flash phenomenon occurs during analysis, generally related to the transference. It represents one of the many derivatives of unresolved attempts at dealing with psychic strivings and generally follows dreams which similarly reflect those strivings which later are carried over to the semi-awakened state and are reflected in the morning ruminative state in a different form.

The flash signals a shift from the night-time attempts at resolving psychic conflicts to the morning ruminative state which is a continuation of these attempts. The flash sensation reflects sudden shifts in cathexis which facilitate the attempts at dealing with psychic conflicts, and may be experienced internally and externally in many forms.