Is nostalgia a some kind of disorder?

[jackson6612]

Is nostalgia a some kind of disorder? Aren't some people more prone to nostalgic thoughts, or is it that they have more time for such thoughts, or is it that from their point of view their past was more relaxed and wonderful as compared to the present period they are going through, or is it that it has some thing to do with genetics, or is it that all of the mentioned things and perhaps some more combined result into nostalgic 'disorder'? Please let me know your take on this. Thanks a lot.

 

[Evo]

Nostalgia is usually associated with pleasant memories, so it makes sense that people enjoy nostalgic thoughts.

 

[JaredJames]

Why would it be a disorder?

It's just looking back at memories of the past, generally as Evo points out, of pleasant times.

 

[disregardthat]

It seems that the wikipedia article takes the view that the "clinical view" of nostalgia refers to a sort of condition associated with melancholy. In earlier times its meaning was similar to "homesickness", and apparently people under the condition with the name nostalgia would suffer and die. It isn't a disorder in this context any more than normal swings in mood or depression which everyone can experience. That doesn't mean severe depressions can not be developed as a consequence of nostalgia, but I would find it surprising if someone were significantly more prone to nostalgia than others.

In modern common usage it rather refers to the recognizable feeling of reminiscence or being reminded of something pleasant in the past in some way or another.

 

[pallidin]

"Nostalgia" might also be seen as an attempt for us to re-orient ourselves to a more "vibrant" state, in a direct effort to self-motivate, as we recall a true time when we felt/acted better than presently.
Just my take on it...