Longing for the past

[E.B]

I was not sure where to put this because none of the anxiety forums really fit the topic...possibly depression, but anyhow...

Does anyone long for the past? Anyone especially nostalgic? I am 31 and ever since i was around 25 probably, i started longing for the years of 12-16. These years were not particuallry fantastic...i went through some very rough patches with ocd. For some reason i find myself a lot of time thinking of those days...family vacations, skateboarding with my friends, etc... I feel like i am the only one who really does this to this extent, even a counselor i saw was perplexed. Its like i really want to re live those years...Would like to hear some input. Thanks.

[Desolate123]

I experience the exact feelings, actually.  I'm 19 years old, but I wish I was back in early childhood again often, back in the late nineties, at my kindergarten or elementary school, in 1998 and 1999, when times were good the everything seemed so innocent and optimistic, at least to me.....

I think one reason why we as human beings long for the past is because of a fear of the present.  I will admit and I will not lie, I am afraid of what's going on in the world.  Sure, back in the '90's we had those in 1993 of the Davidian Branch Cult, or Al-Qaeda, and people were more bigoted back then too, but still, to me it seems like it was better then.  Back then, I was so young...I didn't worry about nor was I even aware of things like terrorists or global warming, etc.  I just enjoyed life, which is really how I think it should be.  Right now I just try to focus on my health, finances, etc. and I don't try to focus on things like those issues.....but it's hard....I really wish I got a chance to relive the past too, I really do....

...It all seems so distant now, my treasured past experiences, in kindergarten, in elementary school, like it was all part of a dream or something.  I look back at those times of mine as golden, and my longing for them, it's so intense....it really haunts me....

It's a shame how in life, how often treasured experiences must be eventually and inevitably be consigned to the shelf to collect dust, to collect dust in the vault of memories, in the well of time.

[Nickchick]

I constantly feel like this. I had a pretty crappy childhood but I never wanted to grow up. I know it was inevitable but while other kids couldn't wait to get older, I savored my youth as much as I could. I see nothing good from becoming an adult except understanding dirty jokes. Sure when I was a kid I had to worry about my parents fighting but I was oblivious to worries in general. When you're an adult you have all this stress taking a toll on your body so you feel you don't have as much energy. I think another issue is I don't have much of a family. I lost my grandma who was my closest family member at 14. I had to watch her go from being the strongest person I know to going to ICU and finally her Hospice days. I know she wouldn't want me to be sad and I certainly wouldn't want her to be alive as she was. In fact she apparently told my aunt when her brain was deteriorating "why can't they just let me die?". I think the day she passed was the start of me understanding how life is not forever. It's only gotten worse from there. I also loved the pop culture then. The only thing I am thankful for in these past few years is my Pom. I have a lot of regrets too. I often wonder what my life would have been like if I had done things differently.

[Cilantro]

It's all about comfort and the familiar.