We talk a lot about nostalgia as something sweet—warm memories, the “good old days.” But for many people, looking back isn’t comforting, it’s activating. Traumatic nostalgia is what happens when revisiting your past doesn’t just bring memories, it pulls you back into the pain, the fear, or the helplessness of what you lived through.

In this episode, I break down:

What traumatic nostalgia really is (and how it’s different from bittersweet remembering).

Why your mind and body can’t always tell the difference between “back then” and “right now.”

How this shows up in everyday life—holidays, songs, childhood places, even old relationships.

The nervous system’s role in dragging you into an old state of being.

If you’ve ever felt confused about why certain memories hurt more than they heal—or why you long for something that was actually harmful—this episode will help you name it, understand it, and start to loosen its grip.

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