Discussion Is nostalgia becoming better or worse for you as you age?

[Forever Sleep]

Obviously, more of a question for older members who have more to remember but, open to all.

I'm finding so much reassurance in old, familiar TV series etc. at the moment. It doesn't seem to matter that I've seen them so many times before. It's not comforting enough to make life itself worthwhile of course but, it's a much needed crutch at the moment. I'm not feeling at all good.

I don't know why it feels nice. It's not like my life was any better back then either! Maybe there's just a comfort in things that are familiar.

What are your experiences? Has the feeling of nostalgia grown as you have or, maybe the reverse is the case and, things that were comforting, aren't so much now. I think I'm probably just grasping for stuff to make me feel better to be honest.

 

[crashingwaves12]

a little bit of both for me honestly. the bitter side of longing for the simpler times gets worse, but the sweet part of indulging in it gets even better with age

 

[darksouls]

it makes me rather sad because I feel so dead inside

 

[Alexei_Kirillov]

Caveat that I'm only 24, but I've found that I've become less nostalgic as I've gotten older, I think just because I feel that I've reached "the end of the line." There is now no life that I would like to live: past, present, or future. I don't wish to feel good again -- I don't really wish for anything, anymore.

 

[WhiteRabbit]

I rarely watch movies and TV shows more than once, but I do find myself listening to music that makes me nostalgic for the past, when life was better.

 

[cemeteryismyhome]

Better. I've noticed I'm becoming increasingly detached from the past. I enjoy remembering things from the past, but I care about them less. I like to look at maps and watch videos and "walk" down Google streets of places I used to live. Videos of my kids when they were little. Old pictures. But it's fading away, and I feel relieved to let it go. It's like my past is turning to dust and blowing away. Each day goes by faster and faster and there isn't anything in the future. The past seems simpler though it wasn't easy. It was far better socially without the internet and cell phones. I've been throwing away old things I kept. Just fading away, thank goodness.

 

[KillingPain267]

Worse. I have to fight to suppress good memories, because they literally hurt me inside.

 

[patheticparasite]

Haven't had a streak of nostalgia in ages. Familiar old stuff bores me to death. I constantly need new consumables to occupy my mind, otherwise I'm getting really cranky to the point of suicidal thoughts. Come to think of it, this kinda sounds like an addiction.

 

[Pluto]

 

[FoxSauce]

Both like for example I would be so transfered in it that could keep me there and not see new things. For example seeing a show I saw like 10 times I know how it goes and know how it ends it feels safer I guess.

I won't progress into new concepts.pf new shows and so on.


Does that count?

 

[Hollowman]

The past is mostly all a blur to me. I rarely have memories with emotions attached to them. I also have aphantasia. I'm an empty void, it's like I already know what death will be like.

 

[mourningyesterday]

Worse. I have to fight to suppress good memories, because they literally hurt me inside.

i relate so much, had to stop myself recently because it just makes me feel awful but memories are the only thing i have left

 

[Forever Sleep]

Better. I've noticed I'm becoming increasingly detached from the past. I enjoy remembering things from the past, but I care about them less. I like to look at maps and watch videos and "walk" down Google streets of places I used to live. Videos of my kids when they were little. Old pictures. But it's fading away, and I feel relieved to let it go. It's like my past is turning to dust and blowing away. Each day goes by faster and faster and there isn't anything in the future. The past seems simpler though it wasn't easy. It was far better socially without the internet and cell phones. I've been throwing away old things I kept. Just fading away, thank goodness.

I do that too- 'revisit' old places via Google maps. Sometimes, YouTube videos too. I saw there was one for a park we used to visit the other day. It didn't look like it had changed that much at all.

I haven't looked at family pictures in years. It's hard to know how I would react but, I suspect I'd still cry. (Lots of dead relatives.) I'm glad the intensity is starting to fade for you if that feels more comfortable.

Both like for example I would be so transfered in it that could keep me there and not see new things. For example seeing a show I saw like 10 times I know how it goes and know how it ends it feels safer I guess.

I won't progress into new concepts.pf new shows and so on.


Does that count?

I can be like this with new things too. I have to be in the right mood really- which is kind of rare. It probably limits the sharing side of friendships though. I'm usually not that interested in checking out suggestions- music, films, whatever.

I know it's a stupid sentiment to have because, everything is new once! Maybe it's the annoyance when we've paid for something and, it wasn't worth the money. I got better at it when I started watching subscription services. It didn't matter then, if some of the stuff didn't appeal.

But yeah, I think it does tie in to nostalgia- that comfort of something being familiar.

 

[tunneloflove]

horrifically worse. every time i see anything that reminds me of my youth that i lost to trauma and my useless illnesses i feel like ive been impaled at every angle. its terrible, it used to be fun to think of the past but now it just fills me with anger and upset. i didnt get to have a teenage-hood so whenever nostalgia is triggered it's like there's a disconnect between what my brain is looking for and what's supposed to be/isn't there

 

[NoPoint2Life]

I totally get the nostalgia TV thing. I got really into a few shows that I had kind of watched when I was young younger during the last few years. As you said, the reassurance of it is so nice.

I used to watch others that were older, getting nostalgic and thought it was weird. But now I totally get it. It doesn't help that media is trying to bring back so many older things that nostalgia seems to get forced upon you anyway.

When I talk to my cousin, much of it is based on nostalgia at least until the last few years when my mental health is a big subject and so is catching up on each other's lives. I guess due to lack of social interacting I almost feel like there's some people that the relationship was based on nostalgia. Otherwise, I have nothing to talk about.

And when we moved 6 1/2 years ago, my mom wanted to get rid of the old photo albums. I refused to let her. But as they are sitting in our attic, I have not looked at them once. Mostly I just don't feel like dragging them out. But I always did like looking at them every so often.

 

[Grog]

Nostalgia has always been a reliable band-aid for me, so-to-speak. It's comforting. I watch old shows, movies, anime, and play old video games all the time because it gives me comfort and reminds me of a time when life was good for me. Nostalgic entertainment is probably one of the reasons I'm still here.