here i lay awake at 1:20 in the morning.... used to be asleep at 12:00 every night. I was feeling good the whole day. then at midnight when i getting ready to unwind and go to bed Malcolm in the Middle comes on. I think.."hey i like this show. it's funny. Let me watch a little bit." 5 mins into the show Malcolm is sitting in the school therapists office and bam!!! Anxiety overwhelms me to the point that i can't watch it anymore. I retreat to my bedroom leaving my wife and youngest in the living room. I feel like crying. My heart is pounding. I don't like this. In fact I hate this. I feel low.

I am sorry to learn you have had this experience. Please remember that trigger situations are temporary. I hope that will be some comfort for you.

The 1st time i had to "talk to someone" was in 8th grade, after skipping class too many times; i always made him keep the door half-open. I don't know the reason you're here, but i do understand being triggered by any scene involving an imbalance of power and isolation!
You're not alone- maybe not in the sense of memories, but in the sense of empathy...

Hang in there man, it does get better. Takes time, but it does get better!