Did you realise that when you read a book there is a recognised therapeutic process going on in your subconscious mind? Simply put, there are generally four stages:
- Identification – This stage sees the reader begin to affiliate and and identify with a character and their specific problems, challenges, and achievements.
- Catharsis – This occurs as the reader follows the character on their journey of problem resolution and self-discovery, and is done from the safe position of observing and learning solutions to problematic situations through a fictional character.
- Insight – The stage of the process which prompts recognition that the solutions, ideas and lessons learned by the character can be applied by the reader in their own life.
- Universalisation – The realisation that the reader is not alone and shares the problems and challenges experienced by many other people.
This is good reason enough to pick up a book, but there is another important aspect to the reading process:
- Escapism – The mind is continually telling stories, many of them detrimental to our mental wellbeing. We tell ourselves stories which we believe, stories of how we are not good enough, how we fail at life, how we are unlovable, stupid, and ugly. It is rare that we tell ourselves uplifting stories about ourselves. To read a book when we are having a depressive episodes can seem like a chore, but healing often requires many small pieces. A carefully chosen book can provide a small piece of escapism and respite from the negative stories in our head.
