It depends entirely on the book but in general whenever I read a book especially a book to make me think or reflect it does help
IntenseGeekitude on
It can for sure. Picking the right book for your exact mood can be tricky though.
Some books that help me with depression are:
Consistent, formulaic stories like those of Agatha Christie, Louis L’Amour, or Earl Stanley Gardner. Or children’s books like Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys. The general idea here is any easy-to-read book from a series where you know exactly what you’re going to get. This is the kind of book to carry me through dark melancholy.
Cheerful books that have a large cast of quirky characters, like Connie Willis’s *Bellwether*…this is the kind of book to lift me out of dark melancholy for a while.
Surreal books like *The Circus of Dr. Lao* to take me through a purely mental exercise, allowing me to leave emotion behind for a while.
I really think it depends on what your needs are, but there’s a really good chance the book you’re looking for is out there!
Impossible-Wait1271 on
Reading can be so helpful for your mental health, i hope you decide to pick up a fun or engaging book! You can use it as a way to stimulate your brain with engaging topics – you can learn a lot about world history even from really fun historical fiction for example! I also use reading as an escape and coping activity; diving into a book so vivid that nothing else exists but what’s happening on the pages and in your mind. just read anything that sounds good to you in that moment, whether educational or simply for funsies.
Vanislebabe on
I went through a tough period of depression a while ago and my fav type of books were “I’m a survivor” type ones. I really got into post apocalyptic preppers ( sounds weird I know but it made me feel happy and ready for anything). I also enjoyed people coming into their power books, and cool cosy type fantasies.
Rockfall – a great easy book about a prepper who is ready for anything (William Allen)
Dungeon Crawler Carl – a guy and his cat kick butt and take names. It’s a great fun series.
Outland – Dennis E Taylor. A true escapist type of book. This one was great for when I just wanted to have a book to relax into.
freerangelibrarian on
It’s not fiction, but you can’t do better than Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson.
Ninja_Pollito on
I would say it is one of the things that helps me hang on (I have to do a lot of other things too). But reading helps me to focus on my own mind less…at least while I am reading. And I like to read all kinds of things. Sometimes it is horror, a lot of times it is sci fi because it gives me ideas. I like weird fiction because it is unpredictable. I also read historical fiction, some fantasy, and some thrillers. Basically, I just love a good story. I read some non-fiction, and I recently started reading about philosophy because it peels back the layers of reality and will help me think about things in new ways.
SupermarketFew4960 on
i personally think so. at the very least, reading gives you the opportunity to focus on a story other than whatever is making you feel depressed. i use reading to alleviate stress myself. i hope you find the right book to help you with your depression.
CGunners on
Lost Connections by Johan Hari.
This book has had its critics and they may well be right.
However, it does talk about concrete reasons why depression happens and what you can do about it. And it must be said, things like exercise and fostering social connections are annoyingly effective helping with depression. Even when it gets about as bad as it can get.
It’s not a tablet you take and instantly feel better but if nothing else it gets you thinking about depression as something that can be treated as opposed to an endless hopeless weight that can only be staved off with drugs that make you fat and sexless.
9 Comments
It depends entirely on the book but in general whenever I read a book especially a book to make me think or reflect it does help
It can for sure. Picking the right book for your exact mood can be tricky though.
Some books that help me with depression are:
Consistent, formulaic stories like those of Agatha Christie, Louis L’Amour, or Earl Stanley Gardner. Or children’s books like Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys. The general idea here is any easy-to-read book from a series where you know exactly what you’re going to get. This is the kind of book to carry me through dark melancholy.
Cheerful books that have a large cast of quirky characters, like Connie Willis’s *Bellwether*…this is the kind of book to lift me out of dark melancholy for a while.
Surreal books like *The Circus of Dr. Lao* to take me through a purely mental exercise, allowing me to leave emotion behind for a while.
I really think it depends on what your needs are, but there’s a really good chance the book you’re looking for is out there!
Reading can be so helpful for your mental health, i hope you decide to pick up a fun or engaging book! You can use it as a way to stimulate your brain with engaging topics – you can learn a lot about world history even from really fun historical fiction for example! I also use reading as an escape and coping activity; diving into a book so vivid that nothing else exists but what’s happening on the pages and in your mind. just read anything that sounds good to you in that moment, whether educational or simply for funsies.
I went through a tough period of depression a while ago and my fav type of books were “I’m a survivor” type ones. I really got into post apocalyptic preppers ( sounds weird I know but it made me feel happy and ready for anything). I also enjoyed people coming into their power books, and cool cosy type fantasies.
Rockfall – a great easy book about a prepper who is ready for anything (William Allen)
Dungeon Crawler Carl – a guy and his cat kick butt and take names. It’s a great fun series.
Outland – Dennis E Taylor. A true escapist type of book. This one was great for when I just wanted to have a book to relax into.
It’s not fiction, but you can’t do better than Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson.
I would say it is one of the things that helps me hang on (I have to do a lot of other things too). But reading helps me to focus on my own mind less…at least while I am reading. And I like to read all kinds of things. Sometimes it is horror, a lot of times it is sci fi because it gives me ideas. I like weird fiction because it is unpredictable. I also read historical fiction, some fantasy, and some thrillers. Basically, I just love a good story. I read some non-fiction, and I recently started reading about philosophy because it peels back the layers of reality and will help me think about things in new ways.
i personally think so. at the very least, reading gives you the opportunity to focus on a story other than whatever is making you feel depressed. i use reading to alleviate stress myself. i hope you find the right book to help you with your depression.
Lost Connections by Johan Hari.
This book has had its critics and they may well be right.
However, it does talk about concrete reasons why depression happens and what you can do about it. And it must be said, things like exercise and fostering social connections are annoyingly effective helping with depression. Even when it gets about as bad as it can get.
It’s not a tablet you take and instantly feel better but if nothing else it gets you thinking about depression as something that can be treated as opposed to an endless hopeless weight that can only be staved off with drugs that make you fat and sexless.
Can be, exercise is way better tho