I'm 15.

Basically, whenever I see something from a long time ago, I get very sad. It could be anything: a movie, a video game, a song, a book, anything.

Here's an example that happened today. I found an old book series on my bookshelf that I read back in September 2009. I really liked the series, and for some reason seeing the books made me sad.

It's also a book about a soldier in a war with aliens that takes place over 40 years and all of the changes that happen in his life, his friends, basically his life. He basically learns who he is because of all of the stuff he goes through. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Buettner#Jason_Wander_series, if you'd like to see more of what I mean.

Another thing is my memory. It's pretty good, so I always remember when stuff happened (like reading that series). Could that have anything to do with it (remembering exactly how long ago something was, causing my brain to go "Wow. Really?)

So, my questions:

1) Why do I feel this way? Isn't nostalgia a good thing, or is this not nostalgia?

2) Does it have anything to do with my age and growing up?

3) Could the fact that the book character is going through his life be why it has had such an effect on me, or is it just because it's a series I liked?

Thanks so much if you read and answered. You have no idea how much it means to me.

Could be nostalgia. But then, I'm not a psychologist. If you're worried about it, I'd seriously suggest you talk to your family about it instead of random people on the intarwebs.

Edit: I do know what you mean though, and for me it's definitely a combination of nostalgia and the fact that sometimes I forget how long ago some things happened.

Books that you read 2009 doesn't sound like something "a long time ago". But that's just me.

But on your issue; never heard about anything like it or experienced it. As for the question about age, I don't think it has anything to do with age, at least not something that "everybody goes through" sort of thing whether emotionally or physically. It may just be you, if you get what I mean. There may not really be much to it even.

Thanks for answering. I've tried talking with my family, but that didn't really go anywhere.


It could be forgetting the time that passes between things that happen. 15 and I already feel old.

is it odd that i sometimes got sad playing fallout? i still loved the game, but sometimes i just got sad while i played it. i also get sad thinking of some things that shouldnt really make me sad.

I have felt that way before. I am 19 almost 20 and when I look at certain things that remind me of when I was little, I get kind of sad and sort of wish I could go back. It might be a simple form of nostalgia where you only sort of wish you could go back sometimes. If you are looking at something and are really wanting to go back to the past, then I would talk to your family about it.




i get the same feeling when I play the old pokemon games on gameboy color.

Not necessarily a long time ago, just something I enjoyed or had a profound effect on me.



That's how I feel! Except it happens when playing something like Pokemon.



I don't really want to go back. It just makes me sad.

I see things sometimes that remind me of the past and it makes me sad. Not the objects themselves, but the memories that come with them. Very few objects bring good memories.

gotcha. are you starting high school or just finished the first year of high school? My friend's dad is a psychiatrist, and he told me that a lot of things like this happen when you are starting a new phase in your life such as junior high, high school, or college. I was acting like this when I first started high school, so I went and talked to him about it. Not saying you need one, just giving an example.

I think you should be more worried about the future than the past.

Just finished Freshman year, although I've been like this for a while. However, I'd say I'm starting a "new phase", since this summer I got my learner's license, started my first job, and all of that good stuff.

Have you been feeling depressed at all lately? Because I had something similar which was probably related to my depression. Certain thoughts would remind me of events and relationships and my mind would go down the line of "what could have been" if you will.

Not really. It just makes me feel sad on occasion when I see something like that.

Yes. Whenever I think about the Jak series or Arthur C. Clarke's Rama series of books I get sad. This is only because I remember how amazing the Jak series was and how awe inspiring the Rama series is.

Hormone imbalances.

In a more serious address of your topic, my guess would be a subconscious tug at some nerve that you can't understand fully. I mean, if you go to a psychiatrist , they could probably tell you with some proper anolysis, but I am not a psychiatrist so my input isn't worth very much.

I was 15 once (about 4 years ago to be exact) and there's just generally a lot of things that come with growing up that you can't really understand. My guess is simply that nostalgia can affect people negatively, by reminding people of things they once enjoyed or remember in a positive light. When contemplating those things and comparing them to your experiences today, you may feel a sense of longing or regret for times where you had more fun than you do today. I know books sometimes make me feel...well, I wouldn't say depressed, but I guess not as excited or happy as I once was. I remember reading good stories, and then the experience of reading them for the first time becomes lost forever. After that point you begin searching for that same experience, but because no two books are the same and you've moved on to a different time of your life, it's simply impossible.

It is probably just nostalgia, i get the sad feeling from that sometimes. Could be that you just miss the past.

I experience these. Especially regarding music and movies. If I try to listen to a band or watch a movie that I shared with an intimate other, I get very depressed. I can't even watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy because of the memories it brings up with my ex fiance.

EDIT: Sneaky spaces.

I cant play Fallout New Vegas without feeling a little down because I bought that game back when I first started dating my last girlfriend (who was by far the best) and whenever I play that game it makes me think of happier times that no longer exist but on the slightly less depressing side whenever I see things from my childhood, like movies or toys, I actually get put in a good mood because it makes me think how fortunate I am to be raised like I was and all that sappy stuff

I used to have experiences like the OP when I was around your age. I remember the first time I watched the entire Cowboy Bebop series I felt sad because I knew I could no longer watch any new episodes (although it could have been because the last 2 episodes were kind of depressing...). I used to nostalgia hardcoe playing Starcraft as well, but that was a different feeling. I don't really get sensations like that anymore though, so it could just be something to do with your age (hormones, as someone said earlier). Or maybe I've just become an emotionally dead, cynical, advlt...