What may be happening
High school or college may have provided clear achievements, close friend groups, and a sense of possibility. Post-graduation life can feel undefined by comparison. Depression or difficult transitions can make the past look brighter than it was.
What can help
Identify what specifically you miss—social connection, achievement, freedom, identity—and explore adult versions of those needs. Challenge nostalgia: recall struggles you had during those years too. Build new communities through hobbies, volunteering, or professional networks. Set small achievable goals to recreate a sense of progress.
Remember that brain development continues into your twenties and beyond—growth is not over.
When to get support
Consider professional support if symptoms persistently interfere with daily life, relationships, or safety. Seek urgent help if you are having thoughts of self-harm or feel unable to stay safe; in the U. S. , call or text 988. Seek therapy if nostalgia for the past accompanies persistent depression, inability to engage with the present, or withdrawal from current life.