I was looking through some old photo albums and found some pictures from elementary school. There is one picture that stands out to me and makes me cry when I look at it. It is my 1st grade picture. I cannot recall any major event happening during that time, so I am trying to figure out why that picture brings up so much emotion.

Have any of you had an experience like this? Found an old picture and it brought back feelings and emotions, but no real story behind it?

[Wren_]

yes ... many times

[Chopin99]

Originally Posted by Squiggle328

I was looking through some old photo albums and found some pictures from elementary school. There is one picture that stands out to me and makes me cry when I look at it. It is my 1st grade picture. I cannot recall any major event happening during that time, so I am trying to figure out why that picture brings up so much emotion.

Have any of you had an experience like this? Found an old picture and it brought back feelings and emotions, but no real story behind it?

In a manner of sorts. I've been scanning old pictures to my iPad to show T and the thing that stood out to me was this: at the age of 5, after I started school, the "light" went out in my eyes. I obviously changed from a happy child to a sad child. I know some of the reasons why, but looking at pictures of me after age 5 make me sad.

I actually had a very good childhood. Grew up in a house of 5 children. I was the middle one. Good parents. No real issues. So why does that picture affect me like this? I don't understand this emotion at all.

[rainbow8]

I get nostalgic and often sad when I look at childhood photos just because of knowing how much time has gone by, how when I was a child I never thought about life going on and getting older.

It could be that something happened when you were in 1st grade that you can't remember but it made you sad. It doesn't have to be traumatic. Do you have other photos from that same age? Is it only this one particular photo that makes you sad? Maybe you should bring it with you to your next session and see what happens.

There's a photo of me that I call my "shy" picture. My eyes look shy or questioning, I'm not sure. I have shown it and other childhood photos to my T. Nothing has come up from showing her but maybe it will for you.

Originally Posted by rainbow8

I get nostalgic and often sad when I look at childhood photos just because of knowing how much time has gone by, how when I was a child I never thought about life going on and getting older.

It could be that something happened when you were in 1st grade that you can't remember but it made you sad. It doesn't have to be traumatic. Do you have other photos from that same age? Is it only this one particular photo that makes you sad? Maybe you should bring it with you to your next session and see what happens.

Maybe it is because I think of "Little Squiggle" when I see that picture. I see how old she is now and that makes me sad? Maybe. I know that if I could have some do-overs, there would be many of them! "Little Squiggle" didn't have a care in the world. She was innocent at that time. Maybe this is what hurts me? I realize that memories can be emotional and not necessarily be 'bad' memories. This may just be a feeling of sorrow that my life has not really turned out like I wanted it to. I messed up alot along the way. I look at "Little Squiggle" and I see how happy she is. I want that back. Maybe this is why I am so emotional. I want to be happy again like I was in the 1st grade.

[rainbow8]

That makes sense. It's about the innocence of childhood. I know many didn't have that kind of childhood, but I did too. I was generally happy and innocent. I didn't know life would have so many challenges. I feel bad when I see photos of my brother whose life didn't turn out very happy. We were happy back then!

Originally Posted by rainbow8

That makes sense. It's about the innocence of childhood. I know many didn't have that kind of childhood, but I did too. I was generally happy and innocent. I didn't know life would have so many challenges. I feel bad when I see photos of my brother whose life didn't turn out very happy. We were happy back then!

I was the 'middle' child of 5 kids. I don't think I fought for attention. I was the hyper one! I was always into something. My mother used to say that my two older siblings were quite easy, then I came along! I was the one who would drag everything out of the cabinets and drawers, pull the toilet paper off the roll and down the hall, climb out of my crib at night, draw on the walls, etc.....

I was the one that they had to keep an eye on every minute of every day.

[ECHOES]

Squiggles, my T and I discussed this age a few times, especially how much the world changes for a child when they begin school. And probably it was more of a dramatic change for those like me who began school in the late 50's era.
From the cozy home we are suddenly spending most of our day in another place, a structured environment, with other children and adults that we don't know.
We have many responsibilities about being a part of a group, doing work when told to, etc.
Imagine what an adjustment that must be. A kid might feel like crawling up on the couch for some quiet time, but there they are at school instead.
Imagine how many parts of it could be scary. And that it could be lonely for shy kids.
So many things are part of the school years. It is one of the biggest transitions a person makes, and so big for just a little kid.

That makes alot of sense ECHOES. I did have a very hard time sitting still in a desk. I was the kid who constantly "rocked". I mean, I even rocked in chairs that were not rockers! I busted the springs in two couches from doing that. I realize now that my obsessive rocking was probably due to anxiety. I would rock so hard that I banged my head against the back of the chair/couch.

Back in the early 1970's, we were taught to sit up straight, with feet on the floor in front of us. That was terribly hard for me. I am sure that I got in trouble alot for not being able to sit still. When I came home, I rocked for an hour or so. I can still remember doing that until I collapsed in exhaustion.

Hearing from each of you is helping me work this out. I am beginning to see that my emotions do not necessarily indicate that trauma happened. But maybe it was the "change' that happened at that time.

[gma45]

Awe the good old days! Brings sadness to me also the lost innocents. I remember hiding under the desk in case of a bomb attack--like that was really going to save us! This was the sixties. I saw a kid I grew up with, he said he thought his family was the only dysfunctional one on the block then as we got older realized It was the whole neighbor hood and now that I think about it too it was probably the whole town!

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

Squiggles, my T and I discussed this age a few times, especially how much the world changes for a child when they begin school. And probably it was more of a dramatic change for those like me who began school in the late 50's era.
From the cozy home we are suddenly spending most of our day in another place, a structured environment, with other children and adults that we don't know.
We have many responsibilities about being a part of a group, doing work when told to, etc.
Imagine what an adjustment that must be. A kid might feel like crawling up on the couch for some quiet time, but there they are at school instead.
Imagine how many parts of it could be scary. And that it could be lonely for shy kids.
So many things are part of the school years. It is one of the biggest transitions a person makes, and so big for just a little kid.

I agree. Between birth and death, our first day at school is probably the hardest thing we'll ever do. Even harder than a therapy session!