Why am I feeling so down/yearning for the past?

[FeelingBlue1]

Hello,
I've namechanged for this as I've previously posted identifying info. I am a university student, so I'm still young, but I want advice from others who perhaps felt the same at my age.

I just feel very down at the moment, and I am constantly thinking about and yearning for the past. If I could go back, I would in an instant. Nothing has changed; I'm at uni now and I'm not having the best time, but I'm getting on with it. Sometimes i feel very homesick, but I just wish I could be even younger again. I miss being around my family more, I miss the holidays from a few years ago, I even wish I could do my A Levels all over again as I miss my sixth form, the teachers, my friends. I need to stop thinking this way, as obviously I can't constantly be thinking about the past as it isn't impossible to go back. I just feel sad at the stupidest things; I'm sitting in my room watching the sunset and seen an aeroplane go past. I wish I could be on that aeroplane and doing something more exciting, I feel the world is going on around me and I'm just in my little nostalgic bubble.

How can I get out of this state of mind?

Step by step. Go for a brisk walk before it gets dark, plan something nice for dinner and think about what you will do tomorrow.

You sound homesick. How far from home is your campus? Can you organise a meet with past friends for when your next back in your hometown to give you something to focus on and look forward to? Have you joined any soicial groups at uni?

Are there any clubs that you can join at uni ?

Are there any sports you can do at uni, may also be cheaper if you are a student ? eg swimming, fitness, walking, running, trampoline, racket, chess, sailing, rowing, curling

Is there an opportunity to do some part time paid work ?

Is there an opportunity to do some volunteering ?

Is there a uni facebook group you can join ?

Have you explored your local area eg museums, sports, walks, nature, photography

I met some of my best friends when I was in higher education. However you have to make the effort to get out there and do some things. Being at uni is one of the best networking opportunities that you will have

I'm about 4/5 hours away from home. I'll definitely meet up with my friends when I go back, but the placing of my holiday means I only have 2 weeks where I can see them, leaving me 3 weeks on my own. I am part of a few societies, and I have one good friend here and that's about it. I just want my life to get better, I'd thought my life would get bette at uni but in sixth form I was so much happier

Give it time. Uni is sold as this marvellous experience but for most people it takes a while to settle in.

I think you are longing for the 'known' as your life branches off out into the unknown of the future. It's perfectly natural. But don't forget that Uni will soon become 'the known' and you will pine for that when you start work..

Take it easy on yourself. Maybe reread a few old favourite books, chat to some old friends. But don't be afraid of the future - it's usually a good place!

I felt like this a lot at uni, since I went to high school I’ve wanted to be 10 years old again- used to cry to my mum about it.

I think it’s a grieving process, childhood was happy and easy and the older we get the more responsibility we get and the more fearful we are.

You have to let it go, or life will pass you by. I list three things I’m grateful for on a night plus three good things about my day.

I write down things that have happened so I remember them.

If you feel you can’t get past it then maybe go to the doctors as apathy about your current life could be a sign of depression.

Oh and yes, now I’m working I pine for the known that is uni 😂

It might be because school is familiar and safe and known, you knew the people/teachers/area/school well and it was ‘big fish in a small pond’ type scenario - but uni is a huge pond, a lake really, and you’re one fish feeling a bit lost in the vastness of it.
But we look at the past with rose tinted glasses, remember there must’ve been stuff you didn’t like about that part of your life as well.
Either way, unfortunately nothing stays the same - we all must move on and go with the flow.

Yes it’s scary and unfamiliar, but you can’t fight it - you have to move forward and embrace change because change will be a huge part of the rest of your life.

Try and do more - try meet new people, join a club, take up a new hobby - say yes to things you might be nervous of. The world is scary but it’s exciting - so much opportunity and possibility lay before you. You have so much time to figure out who you are and what you like, try and see it as an adventure.

Sorry I have no advice, just commenting as I feel the same. I'm 30 in a couple of weeks but I yearn to be 17/18 again, being in sixth form was the happiest I've ever been. All it takes is a song or a place or a smell to take me back and I feel choked up that it was so long ago and I'll never experience it again.

I try to focus on short term - a holiday or social event coming up, taking my little boy on days out. I think I'm not happy with how my life has turned out and maybe I'm viewing my past with rose- tinted glasses.

Unfortunately life constantly throws things at us that we don't like. Things happen. What I mean is that you can plan things, but they don't always work out how you expect them to. So, you have to make the best of each time and decision. You are very privileged to be at Uni. Try and find something positive each day. You will find that other things will happen in the future that you can't always control.