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Reaction from a photo.

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Kenz1010

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A few weeks ago while trying to look into my past I came across a familiar face, a photo of a soldier, which had completely set me off. It all hit so fast, couldn't stop crying, the amount of sadness I felt is indescribable. Knew it was uncharted territory, but dug further into this mans past yesterday anyway, and the feelings all this has brought on is terrible.

Couldn't stop crying most all of yesterday, once again, so much sadness, so distraught, and an overwhelming longing for home, homesick for a place I don't know where, wanting my family and buddies back, and wishing I could change things. That ongoing sadness has run into today, as I can't think properly at all and am wishing for a different place and time. I don't know for sure of this mans relation to me. At first I felt he must've been a close friend because of the reaction I had to his photo, but after looking deeper into his past, a lot of things line up with what I've remembered of my own. Specifically; my wound, having to stay away from a certain operation (that lines up with where and when this man was wounded) because of triggered flashes of bleeding out, two dates I've received before I even came across his photo that are his exact wound and death date (he was wounded, and then died later). My rank, possible rank that is, may also line up with this mans, as I know I had some sort of 'leadership' role, but cannot say the exact rank as I haven't seen any direct insignia from my recollections. I don't remember much about my life before the war, but the only memories I do have from that time are memories of a wife or girlfriend. This man was married. Wish I could find her photo, as that might help figure some of this out if anything. Also wish I could find out where on his body he was wounded, but the internet doesn't seem to have the information I'm looking for, and if the web does have it, I don't know where to look. I don't know what to think really, and I'm one of those people who needs a bunch of evidence and specifics to draw a conclusion. Might just be one big coincidence. I'm always the type to be in denial of everything when it comes to these things, even my past as a whole, as it becomes too surreal at times. I have the pain where I was wounded as I type this, and that's another thing that randomly comes and goes. Aches in certain areas of the body as well. Anyway

I'm curious if anyone else has felt something similar because of someone's photo, or has had a similar situation/ experience. If so, I'd like to hear about it, either on this thread or in a PM.

-Kenz.
 
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Sorry to hear that you are going through so much sadness.

Didn't get the same and didn't have any strong reaction from a photograph, but strange things already happened to me. Be it a painting, a bust, a song, written text... even a movie scene can trigger emotions when it is similar enough to something I almost remember. I also found myself crying already. Because of somebody's death. Besides grief, other feelings can come up. When what ever I see or hear or read reminds me of a situation, albeit not consciously, where I felt the same way. Or this is my current assumption.

I tend to be overly careful myself and tend to do not trust myself without some kind of external "proof" aka validation, but it is possible, of course, that you either were that soldier or were very close to him, at least. Would explain your strong emotional reaction. I would say there definitely is something. Hope you will be able to find out more about this soldier, somehow. I know how hard it can be to find the information you seek in the vastness of the internet...
 
Yes, finding my past self was a similar reaction. There could only be one person in the end who matched with all my memories and details: him. And it wasn’t a good moment to find him. It was more of a ‘oh sh*t it’s you isn’t it?’

Still over many months doubted and doubted more and still have moments of doubt because that’s how I am, denial is comfort.
 
I have. Not the sorrowful extent you have, I am sorry you are going through such an emotional response. But, in a way it is affirming. You know it has to be you or someone from your past life when it evokes such a strong reaction.

Mine, I was googling my former self, for photographs of her. Her husband, I felt a brief pang of sorrow. Grief, angry grief. Then, I saw an image of another face from her life. A 'colleague', a friend and potential suitor. And I was struck. There wasn't sadness, though, but gladness. I felt elation, for a face that shouldn't have been that familiar to me. It was strange, daunting. How could I know him so familiarly? He had been familiar in her life, always popping up here and there at random points, from the time of her husband's death to just prior to her end. There was no true sorrow because he survived her, by some eighteen years. They had regularly talked for hours, spent evenings together, danced, wined and dined. Her relationship with her husband had been a fleeting infatuation, though there was love there, but her relationship with this gentleman... It was different. There was a hesitation. A caution. There was a war to see ourselves through, then we could talk more seriously. But, he kept popping up. In England, in a French prison, on the transport train, in the holding 'cell'. Then, they were separated one final time. He strove to find her, after his escape, but she had been dead for several weeks at that time.

Now, in this lifetime, there are songs that bring him to mind. Or, moments where I seem to sense that I'm not as alone as I appear. It's him. My dear companion, Harry. He's got my back, even now, when he's not in the physical world. I hear certain songs and it's almost like he's asking me to dance all over again. I've given myself a break for several weeks, but returning to them now to write this has brought it all back. It's an affirmation that I'm on the right track, with Harry at least.
 
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Klaud said:
Not a photograph, but a video. A vlogger I watch on YouTube uploaded a video of the Mongolian steppes. I just sat there and bawled for like 10 minutes because some part of me wanted to go home.
Click to expand...

Yes, videos, too!

I watched an old documentary about my former self's organisation, and I got hit with a bucketload of nostalgia. I wished I'd had my former colleagues there to have a jolly good chuckle at it, because of the typical English gaiety of the time. "Pip, pip, old chap! Jolly fine day, what, what!"
 
Hi, so sorry for your sadness. Yes, from my life as Anna (1950's gal) from young age when watching only a brief black and white Euro-vision song from Italy from Anna's days when I was just a kid myself (it was baked in with the rest of the others)...I was shaken to the core, basically. Not to mention when I found Anna's old family online, the photographs of them, and Anna...Are you leaning against it being your old self or someone you knew? To me it sounds as if it is pl-you. Know it is frustrating not to find out more for example where the injuries were so one can compare if it is the way you remember and even feel it.
Best Wishes Li La
 
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Kenz1010 said:
A few weeks ago while trying to look into my past I came across a familiar face, a photo of a soldier, which had completely set me off. It all hit so fast, couldn't stop crying, the amount of sadness I felt is indescribable. Knew it was uncharted territory, but dug further into this mans past yesterday anyway, and the feelings all this has brought on is terrible.

Couldn't stop crying most all of yesterday, once again, so much sadness, so distraught, and an overwhelming longing for home, homesick for a place I don't know where, wanting my family and buddies back, and wishing I could change things. That ongoing sadness has run into today, as I can't think properly at all and am wishing for a different place and time. I don't know for sure of this mans relation to me. At first I felt he must've been a close friend because of the reaction I had to his photo, but after looking deeper into his past, a lot of things line up with what I've remembered of my own. Specifically; my wound, having to stay away from a certain operation (that lines up with where and when this man was wounded) because of triggered flashes of bleeding out, two dates I've received before I even came across his photo that are his exact wound and death date (he was wounded, and then died later). My rank, possible rank that is, may also line up with this mans, as I know I had some sort of 'leadership' role, but cannot say the exact rank as I haven't seen any direct insignia from my recollections. I don't remember much about my life before the war, but the only memories I do have from that time are memories of a wife or girlfriend. This man was married. Wish I could find her photo, as that might help figure some of this out if anything. Also wish I could find out where on his body he was wounded, but the internet doesn't seem to have the information I'm looking for, and if the web does have it, I don't know where to look. I don't know what to think really, and I'm one of those people who needs a bunch of evidence and specifics to draw a conclusion. Might just be one big coincidence. I'm always the type to be in denial of everything when it comes to these things, even my past as a whole, as it becomes too surreal at times. I have the pain where I was wounded as I type this, and that's another thing that randomly comes and goes. Aches in certain areas of the body as well. Anyway

I'm curious if anyone else has felt something similar because of someone's photo, or has had a similar situation/ experience. If so, I'd like to hear about it, either on this thread or in a PM.

-Kenz.
Click to expand...
Hello Kenz, 1010 I am still searching for a photo of a previous lifetime as the black, American blues musician that I was but several years ago made the journey to New Orleans where he was reported to have lived and when passing through Customs at the airport kept feeling strongly that I was going home, that I was finally going home and had to restrain myself from breaking down in tears. Deep emotions, no logic to them. When I got there it was all familiar, headed straight for Algiers Point and it was like time had stopped. Brought my guitar with me and sang the whole week I was there, all of the songs that I had remembered from that lifetime.
 
yvettebruneau said:
Yes, videos, too!

I watched an old documentary about my former self's organisation, and I got hit with a bucketload of nostalgia. I wished I'd had my former colleagues there to have a jolly good chuckle at it, because of the typical English gaiety of the time. "Pip, pip, old chap! Jolly fine day, what, what!"
Click to expand...

The nostalgia is almost overwhelming at times. I thought that was just a stereotype of England, but I love that people actually talked like that lol
 
Klaud said:
The nostalgia is almost overwhelming at times. I thought that was just a stereotype of England, but I love that people actually talked like that lol
Click to expand...

The quote is a stereotype. :D But, it wasn't too far off for some of the refined areas. All chipper British accents and clean sharp pronunciation. Particularly the "fellow" who starred in the 'documentary'. His female W/T Operator had something of a thick accent, but the Brits talked in such a polished manner. I do personally love it, and I guess I now know why!
 
Li-la said:
Hi, so sorry for your sadness. Yes, from my life as Anna (1950's gal) from young age when watching only a brief black and white Euro-vision song from Italy from Anna's days when I was just a kid myself (it was baked in with the rest of the others)...I was shaken to the core, basically. Not to mention when I found Anna's old family online, the photographs of them, and Anna...Are you leaning against it being your old self or someone you knew? To me it sounds as if it is pl-you. Know it is frustrating not to find out more for example where the injuries were so one can compare if it is the way you remember and even feel it.
Best Wishes Li La
Click to expand...
Hey Li La,

Will PM you, sometime later.
 
I had a similar experience twice.. The first time I think it took a month for the experience to totally wear off. The second maybe a day or two.

I think it or similar experiences are kind of a way of really connecting with your higher self or subconscious memories or emotions.
 
Totoro said:
I had a similar experience twice.. The first time I think it took a month for the experience to totally wear off. The second maybe a day or two.

I think it or similar experiences are kind of a way of really connecting with your higher self or subconscious memories or emotions.
Click to expand...
Hey Totoro,

Curious if you had a similar reaction as I did, with feeling some sort of ongoing sadness. Is that what you meant by it taking a month to wear off?

I’ve still been feeling terrible, if anything it’s gotten worse. Don’t know how long feeling like this will last.
 
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