Why you keep rewatching 'Friends', and what It really says about your mental health?

Time of India

03-05-2025

You've seen Rachel and Ross's will-they-won't-they saga more times than you can count. You quote Sheldon Cooper's quirks like scripture. And still, when the world gets overwhelming, you turn once again to the warm, predictable glow of your favourite sitcom. Sound familiar? According to new research, this repeat-TV habit isn't just comfort-seeking — it could be your brain's way of healing.
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Nostalgia, the Secret Mental Health Tool
For years, psychologists looked at nostalgia as a mental trap — a bittersweet indulgence that bordered on depression, even classified centuries ago as a type of illness linked to anxiety and homesickness. But recent findings are turning that belief on its head. A 2013 study published in
ResearchGate
, aptly titled
Nostalgia as a Resource for Psychological Health and Well-Being
, has unearthed a surprising twist: nostalgia might actually be good for you.
Whether it's watching reruns of
The Big Bang Theory
or swapping stories from college days with friends, the act of revisiting the past appears to trigger not despair, but
emotional resilience
. The study's authors suggest that this familiar trip down memory lane isn't a red flag of poor mental health — it's a safety net, especially in turbulent times.
Triggered by loneliness or stress, nostalgic habits offer comfort, meaning, and emotional resilience, making them a surprisingly healthy coping mechanism.
A Blankie for the Soul
Like an adult version of a childhood comfort toy, those TV marathons or old stories serve a deeper purpose. The study found that 79% of people feel nostalgic at least once a week, and those feelings are overwhelmingly positive. Far from being passive indulgence, these moments can boost mood, self-esteem, and even help people feel more socially connected — a rare commodity in our digital age of isolation.
Amanda Augustine, a career coach quoted in a related study on commuting trends, echoes this sentiment: 'In stressful times, people seek ways to mentally prepare for or decompress from daily pressures. Nostalgia is an intuitive, accessible way to do that.'
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Why Do We Always Go Back?
It's not just about laughing at Joey's failed auditions or reliving the comforting monotony of Penny and Leonard's slow-burn romance. It's about reclaiming a sense of meaning, stability, and connection. The study noted that feelings like loneliness or a lack of purpose are potent triggers for nostalgia — but rather than deepening despair, nostalgia offers a protective layer.
In fact, the more distressed or anxious someone is, the more likely they are to revisit cherished memories — and feel better for it. Rewatching old TV shows becomes more than entertainment; it's therapy in disguise.
The study noted that feelings like loneliness or a lack of purpose are potent triggers for nostalgia — but rather than deepening despair, nostalgia offers a protective layer.
More Than a Guilty Pleasure
So the next time you press play on Season 5, Episode 14 — again — do so without guilt. You're not stuck in the past; you're using it as a compass to navigate the present. As the study concludes, nostalgia 'is a psychological resource – not a liability,' offering comfort, clarity, and even healing for those battling stress, anxiety, or just the chaos of everyday life.
In an age that constantly pushes us toward what's new and next, maybe pressing rewind is the radical self-care we never knew we needed.
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