As an autistic person, I’ve realised something recently…
Nostalgia doesn’t just make me smile.
It actually regulates me.
When everything feels loud, overwhelming, or uncertain, I find myself going back to things I already know:
old songs, childhood shows, random memories like Bubblegum Club or Saturday morning TV.
And it works.
Because nostalgia is predictable.
There are no surprises.
I already know how it sounds, how it feels, how it ends.
In a world that can feel really unpredictable, that kind of familiarity is calming in a way that’s hard to explain.
It’s not about being “stuck in the past.”
It’s about giving my brain a safe place to land.
It’s comfort.
It’s grounding.
It’s a reset button I can actually reach.
So yeah…
I’ll keep my playlists, my throwback shows, and my oddly specific childhood references.
Because they don’t just make me happy.
They help me feel okay. 💖
Asten Does Nostalgia 
Leave a comment