Reading anxiety

[Aguila1794]

Is it hard for you to focus on a book when you’re really anxious? It is for me.

[Agora1]

Oh yes Aguila1794. I use to be an avid reader until I would find myself several

paragraphs/pages down and didn't have a clue as to what I read. The anxious thoughts

took over my comprehension of what I was reading. I actually found that listening to

a book was a better fit for me since the brain can't listen to two thoughts at once. xx

[BrainIsFull]

Definitely! Depressionen/Anxiety robbed me of my ability to read books. I survived childhood through reading. I always loved to read. Now I can't get past a few chapters.

6 years ago I did inpatient treatment for a month and a half and I regained my ability to focus and concentrate. Unfortunately, real life, exacerbated by the Corona pandemic upheaval, has me back in a non-reading status. 😖

I don't have any advice. I can only commiserate.

[Aguila1794 in reply to BrainIsFull]

I wasn’t expecting advice, just wanted empathizers. Thanks for your story.

[secrets22]

Yes i find it almost impossible to concentrate on reading when i'm under stress and anxiety, but when i am calmer i can get totally engrossed in a book.

[cashew78]

oh hell yes. reading. listen to music or the radio. day to day things like groceries... anxiety suuucks...

[baseballbabe]

I was a librarian. I found that during the pandemic I couldn't do all the reading I thought I'd do. I couldn't concentrate. I couldn't remember what I had read. And I couldn't read anything that was unfamiliar because I couldn't deal with anything bad happening in the book. Since I was a kid I have a no dog books rule. That's expanded ten fold. I just can't get myself to do it. Too many triggers maybe?