Gradually I have started to like reading books. In general I have enjoyed reading books since my childhood but no where close to a voracious reader or someone who just genuinely loves reading book and tries to find time to read everyday even when they are busy.
Anyway usually when I have some sort of anxiety, annoyance about something or even mild physical pain I watch movies/tv shows and they work as a good distraction for me.
Recently there was an instance where I had a bit of anxiety about something and then this other instance where I had a mild headache and both the times instead of watching something I decided to pick a nice book that I have been reading and enjoying for the past few days ufortunately they were not able to distract me.
I realised that in times of stress and anxiety watching something definitely helps me to distract myself but choosing a book to read, even the ones that I’m enjoying, doesn’t really work that well. It’s like even the book that I’m enjoying I can only enjoy when I’m in a very relaxed mood.
This makes me wonder what about those avid book readers. Would they be able distract themselves reading a book when they are going through a stressful time(mild headache or anxiety) and if so, is it something that I can develop as well as I build the habit of reading more and more?
There’s some kind of magical ratio of anxiety/pain/etc to book immersion that creates lightning in a bottle for me. I’m always chasing that next read where the world sort of disappears when I’m so engrossed in a story, but it’s rare! I can love a book, rate it 5 stars, but it rarely has that true captivating quality. It’s when that hits, that I can use it to escape some anxiety or illness.
Ahh yes. I guess I’m yet to find a book that can do that for maybe.
Maybe there was only one time I really liked reading a book that helped me during the time when I was sort of depressed for months.
What kinda book in the past have helped you to really escape anxiety or illness?
Random fantasy books worked when I was younger, but lately the closest I’ve gotten to that magical escape reading has been with the Feed series, If We Were Villains and Station Eleven. Maybe my older brain just struggles more with outside distractions, but these have come very close to quieting that extra noise.