Home / Health / Learn 5 Benefits of Nostalgia for Maintaining Mental Health
Kuatbaca.com – Many people reminisce about beautiful memories of the past or feel nostalgic by listening to old songs, watching films, visiting memorable places, or having reunions.
Well, did you know? It turns out that there are several benefits of nostalgia that are proven to be good for maintaining our mental health.
Before recognizing some of them, first understand what nostalgia is and its history, which was once considered a mental disorder.
What is nostalgia?
Nostalgia is a form of emotion or feeling that arises when someone misses or reminisces about the past.
Quoted from Timenostalgia comes from the word “nostos” which means return,” and “wages” means “pain.”
This term was first coined in the 1600s by a Swiss medical student.
Initially, nostalgia was used to describe the soldiers’ longing to return to their homeland while carrying out their duties on the battlefield.
Since then, this plural term has had a negative tone and has been associated with depression or other health problems.
“Because these feelings trigger anxiety and even physical illness, nostalgia was initially thought to be a mental illness,” explains Clay Routledge, a psychologist at the Human Flourishing Lab at the US Archbridge Institute.
However, in 1979, a sociologist began to redefine the meaning of nostalgia from a more positive and balanced perspective.
So, one form of this emotion is considered as a sentimental feeling of longing for the past, which can evoke feelings of happiness and sadness.
What are the benefits of nostalgia for mental health?
Positive nostalgia turns out to be good for maintaining mental health. Extracted from EverydayHealth and WebMDhere are some positive benefits of nostalgia for mental health:
Increase self-confidence
According to a study in the journal Cognition and Emotion (2021), remembering the past helps us connect with ourselves in the past, recognize ourselves in the present and in the future. By knowing ourselves better, understanding our values, and knowing what is important to ourselves, we can be more confident.
Improves mood
Delving into nostalgia or remembering a happy past can sometimes also make you feel calmer, more enthusiastic, and relieve negative emotions. That way, the mood that was previously bad becomes better. The benefits of nostalgia have proven effective for many people undergoing isolation during the 2021 Covid-19 pandemic.
Encourage positive behavior
Nostalgia can also sometimes inspire us to do something better. There are studies that show that nostalgia encourages many people to get up again after being down for several years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Improve social relationships
According to a study in the journal Emotion (2021), nostalgia can encourage us to resolve personal problems with other people or reconnect with old friends who have lost contact. Through collective memory, these emotions can repair social relations or reconnect social relations that were previously broken.
Foster optimism and creativity
Nostalgia can also increase optimism. When we reminisce about happy memories, we will be taken back to times of happiness, love, or feelings of accomplishment. This can give rise to optimism. Apart from that, opening your mind to various experiences in the past can also increase creativity.
Even though there are a number of benefits of nostalgia for maintaining mental health, negative nostalgia can be detrimental. For example, if you drag on regretting the past, mourning losses, or constantly longing to return to the past.
How to reap the benefits of nostalgia for mental health
After knowing the benefits of nostalgia for mental health, here are several ways to get the benefits of nostalgia, including:
Watching old movies
To get the benefits of nostalgia, one can indulge oneself for an hour a day, by watching old movies, films remake, or a sequel to an old film that can remind you of a happy childhood or youth. This method can maintain mental health by triggering the release of the hormone dopamine which makes us happy.
Eat childhood favorite foods
Indulge yourself by reminiscing about your favorite menu or food when you were little. Nostalgia through food is very useful if you are feeling lonely or isolated from the people around you. This method can simultaneously increase self-confidence, optimism and create a feeling of meaning in life.
Listening to old music in youth
Research shows that people’s musical tastes tend to form when they are in their teens or 20s. Music at this age is the most fun to listen to compared to contemporary music or old music from childhood. Well, listening to music when you are young can also increase your enthusiasm or make you in a better mood.
Collecting certain items
The next way to reminisce can be done by collecting certain items that are favorites for friends. This way, when we get older and spend a lot of time at home, we can reminisce about collectible objects to refresh our minds.
Write and share memories
Researchers have found that people who diligently write down sentimental memories or events from the past feel more loved and supported emotionally. This can help when we feel lonely. You can write and share memories in a journal or social media.
After knowing the explanation of what nostalgia is and the benefits of nostalgia for mental health, don’t forget to take the steps above to keep your mind positive.
2023-10-10 08:36:23
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