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Now that I have been retired for more than 5 years, something that I never really prepared for, I find that every once in a while I find myself overwhelmed by a rush of memories covering everything from my early life to about 25 years ago.
Do others find this happening to them too?
I had that happen last year, the night my son got married (age 28 even, but he was still living at home) and they left for Florida for their honeymoon.
I got that Harry Chapin song "Cats in the Cradle" song stuck in my head, and was crying like a baby...
I do since we moved back to our home state. There's a lot here that triggers memories, mostly good, some bad, and a lot that are bitter sweet. I find that I'm happier when I'm living out-of-state. I know we take our memories with us wherever we go but the triggers are here. I've come to embrace them, good and bad. Memories are a big component of who we are and where we've been.
I had that happen last year, the night my son got married (age 28 even, but he was still living at home) and they left for Florida for their honeymoon.
I got that Harry Chapin song "Cats in the Cradle" song stuck in my head, and was crying like a baby...
Now that I have been retired for more than 5 years, something that I never really prepared for, I find that every once in a while I find myself overwhelmed by a rush of memories covering everything from my early life to about 25 years ago.
Do others find this happening to them too?
Sounds like Flashbacks.
I'd say yours is a symptom of finally slowing down enough to examine and feel what you did in real-time instead of burying it all or stuffing it down. PTSD also quite plausible.
I get flashbacks and most of the time the pictures that come up are painful to look at and along with it I experience the strong emotions I felt when it was happening.
I agree you could be evaluated by a professional and that would help you understand it then possibly teach you how to cope with it.
I noticed something yesterday. Different things became important at different points in my life and it is almost like I set subconscious alerts based on those things that are never cleared. What made me think about this was passing a new park not far from my house that looks like it will open any day now. It's still second nature to scan it quickly to see what sort of equipment they have on the playground, how big it is, that it has "real" bathrooms, bike trail and plenty of parking. It's not really relevant now; maybe it will be again in a few years, but it made me think of memories from other parks and playgrounds; really good, happy, fun memories. I was grinning like an idiot; if I had passed a cop, he probably would have pulled me over if he saw my face.
I'd say yours is a symptom of finally slowing down enough to examine and feel what you did in real-time instead of burying it all or stuffing it down. PTSD also quite plausible.
I get flashbacks and most of the time the pictures that come up are painful to look at and along with it I experience the strong emotions I felt when it was happening.
I agree you could be evaluated by a professional and that would help you understand it then possibly teach you how to cope with it.
Again... I am a retired counseling professional. I don't have PTSD. Although 90% of the children that I saw did over the 40 years that I was in practice.
I would have to say that based on typical child rearing practices and the fear mongering of government and the media, there is a level of PTSD that everyone has.
I wouldn't say I am overwhelmed by memories, but I Am thinking more of day to day life from my childhood. My Dad passed 14 years ago but I think of him during my childhood. I remember other people, things and places somewhat wistfully. But I am in today.
I'm seeing that its a common circumstance for us who are Seniors.
Quote:
Originally Posted by theoldnorthstate
I wouldn't say I am overwhelmed by memories, but I Am thinking more of day to day life from my childhood. My Dad passed 14 years ago but I think of him during my childhood. I remember other people, things and places somewhat wistfully. But I am in today.
Just getting older not overwhelmed
"Wistfull" is a good word. I use to call it "that wanting feeling".
The longer you live, the more you have to remember, and the more life experience you have, the more you come to understand the past.
hopefully
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