IFRAME: https://gtm-server.healthline.com/ns.html?id=GTM-MB6365D * Conditions + Featured o Addictions o Anxiety Disorder o ADHD o Bipolar Disorder o Depression o PTSD o Schizophrenia + Articles o Adjustment Disorder o Agoraphobia o Antisocial Personality Disorder o Borderline Personality Disorder o Childhood ADHD o Dissociative Identity Disorder o Narcissistic Personality Disorder o Narcolepsy o Oppositional Defiant Disorder o Panic Attack o Postpartum Depression o Schizoaffective Disorder o Seasonal Affective Disorder o Sex Addiction o Social Anxiety o Specific Phobias o Teenage Depression o Trauma * Discover + Wellness Topics o Black Mental Health o Grief o Emotional Health o Sex & Relationships o Trauma o Understanding Therapy o Workplace Mental Health + Original Series o My Life with OCD o Caregivers Chronicles o Empathy at Work o Sex, Love & All of the Above o Parent Central o Mindful Moment + News & Events o Mental Health News o COVID-19 o Live Town Hall: Mental Health in Focus + Podcasts o Inside Mental Health o Inside Schizophrenia o Inside Bipolar * Quizzes + Conditions o ADHD Symptoms Quiz o Anxiety Symptoms Quiz o Autism Quiz: Family & Friends o Autism Symptoms Quiz o Bipolar Disorder Quiz o Borderline Personality Test o Childhood ADHD Quiz o Depression Symptoms Quiz o Eating Disorder Quiz o Narcissim Symptoms Test o OCD Symptoms Quiz o Psychopathy Test o PTSD Symptoms Quiz o Schizophrenia Quiz + Lifestyle o Attachment Style Quiz o Career Test o Do I Need Therapy Quiz? o Domestic Violence Screening Quiz o Emotional Type Quiz o Loneliness Quiz o Parenting Style Quiz o Personality Test o Relationship Quiz o Stress Test o What's Your Sleep Like? * Resources + Treatment & Support o Find Support o Suicide Prevention o Drugs & Medications o Find a Therapist (BUTTON) * (BUTTON) Conditions * (BUTTON) Discover * (BUTTON) Quizzes * (BUTTON) Resources (BUTTON) Subscribe Depression * Quiz * Symptoms * Causes * Treatment * Find Support (BUTTON) The Benefits of Nostalgia Medically reviewed by Scientific Advisory Board — By John DiPrete on September 16, 2018 If unpleasant or obsessional, past memories can hurt — but nostalgia is good for you. The benefits of this internal psychological state are touted in various academic studies exploring the art and practice of what could be deemed as “pleasant reminiscing.“ According to experts, personal memories from long ago of family and friends can link us together in shared comforts of tradition, and also lend a gratifying sense of continuity in our lives. Nostalgia can take on many different forms. Watching an old black-and-white movie can trigger a cultural nostalgia for a lost period in time. Often that longing can predate one’s own date of birth: fondness for a time only your parents may have known and talked about. The mental journey back through time adds a fourth dimension to the present. If mindfulness is the focal point of the Eternal Now, nostalgia forms a special continuum to the timeless past, expanding our concept of the self. The future may be vague, inchoate and unpredictable; but the past represents a finished whole that cannot be harmed or tampered with. Documented reasons why nostalgia (when used intelligently) can be good for us: It allows us to cast off the stresses of modern life by traveling back to a period of our own choosing. It’s like escaping into the confines of a good book or a darkened theater, but in this case the story is real and (if chosen wisely) has been assured a happy ending. Especially for the elderly, frequently isolated from loved ones and familiar surroundings, recapturing the past often results in maintaining a positive outlook and leads to purposeful activities, such as telling stories and sharing wisdom from a bygone time. According to Dena Kemmet, “an additional function of nostalgia may be its motivating potential. Nostalgia may boost optimism, spark inspiration, and foster creativity.” According to Dr. Clay Routledge, Social Psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology at North Dakota State University,nostalgia “increases positive mood, self-esteem, feelings of social connectedness, optimism about the future, and perceptions of meaning in life. Furthermore, nostalgia motivates people to focus on cultivating meaningful relationships and pursue important life goals. In addition, as people get older, nostalgia makes them feel youthful and energetic. Nostalgia also reduces existential fears about death.” The emotion of nostalgia can be evoked from a familiar scent, an old photograph, or a cherished song. Often it occurs during periods of sadness or transition, but it can appear anytime — affecting the young as well as old. Even children as young as eight-years-old can experience the wistfulness of times past. How nostalgic are you? The research of Krystine Batcho has led New Scientist to create a quiz on the subject, to determine one‘s degree of wistful thinking. A high score indicates a person more attuned to life and more adaptable to life‘s vicissitudes. The healthy use of nostalgia is not about retreating into the past. On the contrary, exploring the treasures of our “mental” time capsules can propel us toward the future, with a restored sense of enthusiasm and hope. The regular practice of this discipline has been found to be correlated with increased resilience and self-confidence. For some, nostalgia can come to resemble a spiritual meditation. Indeed, the past is more venerated in places where the future is more fleeting — where constant change is often expected and demanded. The “cushion” against future shock rests on the pillow of slow self-reflection. Such a spirit of languid repose opposes the current epoch, a time when the present is rooted in gross speed and frequent turmoil. The judicious use of nostalgia offers each one of us who feels stranded in the present an anchor to the past. Last medically reviewed on September 16, 2018 FEEDBACK: Medically reviewed by Scientific Advisory Board — By John DiPrete on September 16, 2018 Read this next * How to Move Past Regret Regret is a common feeling, but knowing how to move past and learning from regrets can help you live a better life. READ MORE * * What Are Common Symptoms of Dyslexia? Medically reviewed by Joslyn Jelinek, LCSW Dyslexia is a learning disorder that can make reading and writing more challenging. READ MORE * 6 Ways to Live an Authentic Life Medically reviewed by Kendra Kubala, PsyD Living authentically means you focus on being yourself and not a version that others expect. 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READ MORE * What Are the Physical Symptoms of Grief? Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT Grief can cause physical symptoms such as exhaustion and inflammation and can lead to conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Learn more about… READ MORE * 5 Ways to Practice Gratitude When You Don't Feel Grateful Expressing gratitude when you're experiencing challenging situations can be difficult. But practicing gratitude can strengthen relationships and your… READ MORE * What Is Emotional Dysregulation? Medically reviewed by Joslyn Jelinek, LCSW Finding it hard to control your emotions? Emotional dysregulation has many causes, including past trauma and mental health conditions. READ MORE * About Us * Contact Us * Terms of Use * Privacy policy * Privacy Settings * Advertising Policy * Medical Affairs * Content Integrity * Newsletter * Find a Therapist * © 2005-2022 Psych Central a Red Ventures Company. All rights reserved. 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