Even though I’m passionate about storytelling, I haven’t always been an avid reader. As a child, I was more interested in creating my own tales than reading what adults told me to. At secondary school and university, I studied texts purely to pass exams, then when I started full-time work, there just didn’t seem to be enough time to read. That all changed in 2020 when the world went into lockdown and my mental health deteriorated. Reading offered the escapism and hope that I sorely needed.
“Reading offered the escapism and hope that I sorely needed”
A Difficult Chapter
As if the pandemic wasn’t enough, my life took another turn when I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. Having already been through a tough time, being ill on a daily basis made my mental health even worse, but rather than reading for pleasure as I had in lockdown, I now felt I needed self-help guides to get me through. Some of the books helped a little, but most made me feel upset, overwhelmed and exhausted. I missed the freedom that regular books offered.
“I felt I needed self-help guides to get me through, but I missed the freedom that regular books offered”
Once I’d recognised and overcome this stigma, I read widely and freely, from novels and memoirs to poetry and plays. In doing so, I discovered an additional benefit to reading – connections. I’ve found online book bloggers and forums, visited libraries and bookshops, and even joined a reading group, which have all helped to improve my mental health.
Discovering Bibliotherapy
Reading has become more than just an interest for me; it’s part of how I care for my mental health, and I’m not the only one. There’s a specialism called ‘bibliotherapy’ that looks at how reading can be used as part of recovery from mental ill health, which I’m hoping to find out more about by taking an online course. I’ve also found that books can be used with CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), which I’ve received for mental ill health, as reading-related goals are a great form of motivation.
“Reading is part of how I care for my mental health”
Turning a New Page
Discovering and sharing stories has always been something I’ve enjoyed, but now it has an even more important purpose. Books have given me a source of hope and comfort when I’ve felt most alone. They have helped me to engage with others and restore my sense of control and identity when both felt lost. Within a few pages, I can meet characters, visit places and follow plots that help me to learn about the world and myself. Reading has given me a way to care for my mental health through both the good days and the bad, and it’s a hobby I know I can rely on in the future.
“Books have given me a source of hope and comfort when I’ve felt most alone.”
Resources for England
- Reading Well Books on Prescription – find out more at reading-well.org.uk
- York Libraries – gain free access to books, e-books, magazines, and more. Visit exploreyork.org.uk for details.
- For information on bibliotherapy, visit the Psychology Today website – https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/therapy-types/bibliotherapy
York Ending Stigma
To 
find out more about our work and to join us to end mental health stigma in York, please refer to our website https://yorkcvs.org.uk/york-ending-stigma/ or email us on yes@yorkCVS.org.uk