Emotions are part of people’s sensitivity. Every day we experience different emotions that help us manage the experiences we have and even make decisions.
“Nostalgia is an emotion that combines feelings of sadness and pleasure when remembering significant moments of our past. It manifests itself in the body through physiological responses such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, and in mood can generate sensations of melancholy or well -being, depending on the context and intensity of memories,” explains the psychologist María Raquel Quiñonez.
This emotion, Quiñónez adds, can improve emotional well -being, reduce loneliness and strengthen self -esteem because it can evoke nostalgic memories. Some investigations have revealed that nostalgia can relieve pain, both physical and emotional, by activating brain areas related to well -being and emotional regulation.
“It can also serve as an emotional coping mechanism, helping us to handle difficult situations by remembering happy moments of the past. However, if nostalgia becomes something we constantly experience or idealize it in excess, it can have negative effects,” says the mental health specialist.
One of the ways in which nostalgia can affect negatively is that it causes the person to stay stagnant in the past. This can generate to stop being and live the president. Consequently, it will be deprived of enjoying current experiences and this can increase the risk of developing disorders such as depression and anxiety, says Gabriela Solís, a psychologist.
Now, if this emotion is experienced in a balanced way, it can help us strengthen self -esteem, reduce the feeling of loneliness and promote social connection, says the expert.
Can we get sick from feeling nostalgic?
The answer is yes. “If nostalgia turns it into a constant and associate it with painful or idealized memories of the past, it can make us more likely to develop disorders such as depression and anxiety,” Quiñónez emphasizes.
In addition, you can interfere with the ability to enjoy the present and adapt to new experiences.
Not everything is negative, since nostalgia can also be favorable to mental health.
“Nostalgia can have a therapeutic effect when we use it to process past experiences and find a positive meaning in them. Studies have shown that remembering happy moments can help us improve emotional well -being, strengthen resilience and experience comfort in moments of stress,” says the expert.
“Nostalgic memories can help us improve mood if we evoke positive emotions and strengthen personal identity. However, if memories are associated with losses, regrets or painful moments, they can generate sadness or pain. The impact depends on how we interpret them and how we integrate memories into our current life,” he adds.
Quiñonez lists a series of recommendations to live this feeling in an adequate and healthy way:
- It is important that we have a balanced relationship with the past, recognizing both positive and negative aspects.
- Practice full attention to be present at the present time and avoid having constant thoughts about the past.
- We can use resources such as writing, art or music to process and express nostalgic feelings.
- Share memories with friends and family to strengthen affective ties.
- Seek professional help if nostalgia interferes significantly in our daily lives.