How reading helps with fighting depression?
Depression is a word everyone is hearing a lot these days. But what is depression? Depression cannot be defined with a single word. Some people might relate it to a bad day or a pessimistic mood, but not even a depressed person can tell what depression is.
But to distract oneself from some depression, reading could be quite beneficial. According to a study by the University of Liverpool, reading is a positive habit that can be very helpful for social well-being and shredding the black clouds of depression. Reading stimulates the reader's mind and forces it to concentrate, which results in forgetting one's negative thoughts.
Sense of companionship:
Talking to others might be difficult for depressed people, as they cannot express what they are feeling or going through, so reading can be beneficial.
When a depressed person reads about a character who's going through a hard time, facing unhappiness, or lost a loved one, he feels a sort of companionship. The person thinks that they are not the only one who is going through a hard time.
Reading develops an understanding between the reader and the character, and the depressed person can relate one's condition with the fictional character.
Relieve stress:
According to D.H Lawrence “one sheds one’s sickness in books”
A study by Sussex University shows that reading for 6 minutes reduces stress up to 68%.
In a 2009 survey of Stress Management Strategies, reading can be beneficial in reducing stress up to some level when your mind is involved in a constant effort of reading, which is not equal to watching television. The focus shifts from your negative thoughts towards the book.
So reading can be a great stress reliever.
Catharsis:
Reading is a significant source of catharsis. When a person reads about the adversity of the fictional characters, the pent-up emotions and frustrations are provided with an outlet.
When you empathize with the characters and understand what they are facing in life, you link your situation and the characters even though they are not real. In this way, some of your negative emotions get a vent, and your worries and complications can be lessened by reading.
Aids sleeping:
Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. — Richard Steele
Depression makes it onerous to sleep. The anxiousness, which ties your stomach into knots, not allows you to relax, resulting in sleep deprivation.
Reading has a soothing effect on your brain; it relaxes the tangles of depression which helps with sleep a lot.
Increase mental activity:
A depressed mind is inactive and filled with negative emotions. A depressed person cannot think above his plights resulting in the stagnancy of mind.
Readings help you focus and concentrate on every detail of the book, which then aids in making your mind active—reading tears up the knots of slothfulness of the mind making it fresh and vigorous.
Helps with communication skills:
A depressed person finds it quite challenging to talk to someone. The disinclined attitude towards social connection or social situation can be avoided with the help of reading.
Reading gives you the confidence you lack to converse with someone. You gain a lot of knowledge through reading, which results as a stimulus you need to start a conversation.
Conclusion:
Reading has a therapeutic effect on mental instability. It revives the lost confidence in oneself. It gives hope to a pessimist depressed person that other people also have ups and downs in life. Reading provides companionship and a sense of understanding the depressed person was lacking.
