Books that unnerve you so much you can’t really start them?

I can't be the first person to find a book that I just can't even finish the first chapter. Even thinking about the first few pages gives me the hibbie jibbies. A book that I see positively praised and I want to read it, but I just can't get over what happens and what some reviews say happen latter.

I never thought I would encounter a book like that. I thought I was desentized to fiction enough. But recently, it feels like my empathic circuits are in overdrive. (This was happening before my grandma's recent heart attack, but the attack really brought these feelings to the forefront).

For me, that book is Xenogensis/Lilith's Brood by Octavia E. Butler.

First chapter spoilers: The whole book starts with a woman waking up who has been abducted, forced under anesthesia, forced to have surgery for who knows what reason, forced to experience a dozen "awakenings" with no clothes and sometimes not even a bathroom. Treating her like an animal.

After reading some reviews I find out later in the story there is forced pregnancy, possibility without actual rape cause crazy alien tech. I'm a guy and that whole idea gives me the heebie jeebies.

To anyone else who has encountered a similar difficulty, did you push through it, or just DNF?

Any advice on how to push through. The book gets a ton of praise for it's insight into actual alien alien species.