Apologies if this is the wrong sub for this.
I used to read lots, and I still love reading. But recently I’ve found that I’m struggling to read due to negative emotions resulting from my depression and anxiety. Like, when everything is quiet and my brain needs to focus, it just can’t, all that’s there is the pain and the worries. So I’ve been resorting to other, more engaging but less satisfying hobbies to distract myself, like going out somewhere, eating food or playing video games or whatever. These things are distracting me from my emotions but they’re also not satisfying or rewarding in the same way as reading a good book.
Does anyone who has experienced similar things have any advice for me to keep reading despite my current mental health?
Yes! Try middlegrade. Depression and anxiety have been part of my life for decades. Middlegrade has especially helped me as an adult still read a great story but it’s typically not too dark. I feel like it helps my inner child read, which helps my anxiety feel not so heavy.