Nostalgia is something that mostly occurs when we tend to remember things that happened in the past, which made us happy, or when we miss those moments in our present lives and we long for it to happen again. Ways to manage extreme nostalgia syndrome (important considerations) In this type of nostalgia, we can savor the happy feelings without being bothered by the fear of uncertainty or worries concerning the outcome of those feelings. ![]() In reflective nostalgia, there is a sense of momentary pleasure or happiness instead of a relentless urge to create a special moment from our past which is followed by a sense of disappointment when we realize the futility of the desire and that memory is forever sealed off from our present life. There is a safe distance which is created in this type of nostalgia that allows us to enjoy a particular memory in a similar way we enjoy reading a book or watching a movie. There is no unwanted and obsessive desire to relive the past or unnecessary mourning about lost people and moments. It savors the emotions evoked by the recollection of the nostalgic memories and there is an acknowledgment of the irretrievability of the past events. This type of nostalgia accepts the fact that memories are to be cherished and revisited occasionally rather than recreating them or constantly wishing to live in those memories. Reflective nostalgia is much healthier and less harmful. There exist unrealistic expectations to be able to forever live in nostalgic memories and this is what eventually causes harm as well. This kind of nostalgia is a type of homesickness – “a homesickness for the past events” which is pathological. For instance, this is the kind of nostalgia that makes us call our close friends or partners, late at night to tell them about a song or poem we heard which might be their favorite one. There is an innate and strong desire to relive the gone moments. It views the past intending to recreate it. It proposes to rebuild the lost home and to fill the memory gaps. Restorative nostalgia emphasizes nostos (returning home). They are as given below: Restorative nostalgia There are two different types of nostalgia. They remind us of those experiences that we never wish to experience again in our lives. ![]() While most of our memories are associated with good feelings and happy emotions, certain nostalgic moments can trigger unpleasant and overwhelming emotions in us. In other words, we can also say that those who wish to fetishize their memories will struggle to add new memories to their present life. Ironically, it also inhibits a person from creating new memories in the present moment. The constant tendency to dwell in the past can gradually reveal an underlying fear and hesitation to face the present. It could even lead to a state of psychosis, coupled with suicidal ideations, if not taken care of. ![]() Excessively indulging in nostalgia and mourning over those people and situations which no longer exist in the present could make us feel disappointed and sorrowful, over time. However, when these nostalgic memories become debilitating and lead us to a sorry state of affairs, it is imperative to be aware of the consequences of such a state. It helps us to revisit those joyful moments and reminds us that life has its share of good times. Therefore, it is factually right to compare nostalgia to any other form of an addictive drug which, if not controlled, can lead to abuse.Ī certain amount of nostalgia can be considered healthy as it helps us to recollect old memories that we cherish the most and wherein we experienced extreme happiness and joy. The memory that is recollected as a part of nostalgic feelings is sudden, addictive, and extremely powerful. Nostalgia is specific and explicitly associated with a particular type of stimuli that can be of any form. However, it’s not similar when it comes to nostalgia. Retention of information is memory’s modest and routine work. ![]() There is an emotional attachment to a dreamlike past that produces intense emotions in the present. When we lack basic feelings of security and clarity in our present state of mind, we tend to look back at those times when life was simpler and happier. There are unconscious fantasies that we attach to our memories. It is an unchanged transcript of things as they were at one point in time. It is justified to say that memory is a kind of recording which we play at our own will. Living in nostalgia has been deemed to be a disorder since the seventeenth century when a Swiss physician attributed a soldier’s mental and physical ailments to their unusual and overwhelming longing to return home. It can be considered as a lack of commitment to the future and a heavy, burdening attachment to the past. Extreme nostalgia syndrome can be described as a state wherein an individual excessively indulges in the memories of the past and refuses to enjoy the present moment.
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