The therapist noted that nostalgia is essentially our brains reliving the happy and fun times that we had in the past. That’s healthy and can be a good coping strategy when your mood is low or your life is full of challenges. However, there’s a limit to the benefits that nostalgia provides. In some cases, it can actually be detrimental to our mental health.
"If we end up comparing it to our experiences today and feeling like nothing is as good as it was, then this will inevitably affect our mood and our ability to do what we need to do. We can become stuck in our nostalgia; in which case it might be best to seek help from a counseling professional to help you process your past in order to enjoy your present,” she suggested.
At the same time, we have to keep in mind that our memories of the past might not be entirely accurate. We’re reliving our memories by viewing them through a filter. Details might differ from how others remember trends and events.
Some people might end up daydreaming a lot about the past or the future, at the expense of opportunities in the present. Therapist Omijeh, from the BACP, previously told Bored Panda that if you want to change how much time you spend daydreaming, you have to start off by identifying your patterns.
“Think about the times you usually daydream, is there something about that situation or those times that mean you’re daydreaming? Do something about it if that is the case. Set a time limit, use a timer if it ensures you stop. Write down the biggest thought or feeling as a result of the daydream. That way you’re not just stopping daydreaming. You are doing something positive as a nice transition from stopping daydreaming to doing something,” she said.
"Finally, turn your daydream into a visualization or goal exercise. Your daydreams could be a communication about your innermost desires. Could you begin to plan how to achieve those desires?"
Which of these pics made you feel the most nostalgic for the past, dear Pandas? What do you miss most, technology-wise? Are you satisfied with how tech has progressed in recent years? Share your thoughts in the comments!
When you're done enjoying this list, check out Bored Panda's previous features about nostalgic pics here, here, and here.
