I’m not sure if this subreddit is even the right place to ask this question but here goes:
When I was a kid growing up, I had insane tiger parents who would lock me in my room from sunlight to sundown with food breaks of course, during summer schools and the only form of entertainment I had was to read a book that they’d pick, which were at least age-appropriate books so I wasn’t reading PHD candidate study material at least.
They said this is to improve my reading skills. Of course, it helped me improve my reading skills by a tremendous amount but I developed PTSD from it now as an adult. I can no longer read a book for recreation purposes and just reading a book for fun conjures up terrible childhood memories of tearing up over a chapter book.
Even in college I only read books that were required readings, that’s it. And now as a 30 year old, I really do want to get into reading a book again because I feel like I have way too much screen exposure/screentime both on my phone and computer.
My question is, would it be possible if there was something out there that could make me like reading again? In the past I’ve tried just going to a bookstore and flipping children’s picture books to hopefully see where I stand. and so far, I’ve figured out that reading manga/books with pictures in them don’t count towards my PTSD triggers. But chapter books still do. However, is it because I haven’t found the right book yet to hopefully ease me into being okay with reading? Or is it possibly something I should work on with a therapist?
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by OptionOrnery
3 Comments
That’s not tiger parents that’s just abuse. And that’s definitely beyond the more typical being forced to read books I didn’t like in school made me hate reading help me find something I’ll enjoy as an adult.
I do not think this is a matter of finding the right book and would recommend a therapist.
Agree with others that a little therapy might help, to break the obvious association of reading books with feeling trapped and helpless. A little NLP will probably do it, since you seem interested in the topic.
For fiction, I’m guessing the easiest transition books will be those that carry over familiar characters from manga/movies, because you’ll be able to visualize it more easily and thus stay separated from the text, if that makes sense.
But if you really want to just start engaging with text, then read something similar to what you like to read on the internet. I’d recommend something funny: find a Dave Barry book (Insane City? Complete Guide to Guys?) and read those. They’re funny and light and they entertain you enough from sentence to sentence to make you keep coming back.
Try listening to audiobooks while driving or exercising. That’s what got me back into the habit. Start with something short and fun.