healing

By Angelique Anacleto

Take two books, and call back in the morning. If the deluge of social media tends to alienate with “perfect” photoshopped images, then reading quality lit massages your psyche during life’s soul-crushing struggles, from bullying to divorce, addictions to dementia. Unlike watching a movie depiction, bibliotherapy requires readers to intimately relate to characters or internalize narratives, resulting in stress relief, increased empathy, inspired problem-solving and goal-setting.

Bibliotherapy dates back through ancient history, from Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses to father of psychology Sigmund Freud. In 1916, the term joined medical lexicon, and prescribing books to soldiers served a vital support e ort during World War I. Although not a comprehensive treatment guided by medical or psychiatric professionals, it’s recognized as a proven dimension to healing. Experts debate the e ectiveness of fiction versus non-fiction material, but validate bibliotherapy as a positive first step toward cultivating self-awareness and verbalizing issues.

Today’s bibliotherapy bookworms tout tomes to provide tailored insight into personal challenges, ages or backgrounds. For children, specific guidepost books can address self-reliance or puberty’s confounding social dilemmas (a la Judy Blume texts). Even Alzheimer’s readers can reduce stress, stay mentally nimble and feel nurtured, thereby encouraging participation and thinking for themselves.

According to Dr. Michael J. Morejon, a Boca Raton psychiatrist, “Characters can be learning vessels from which we learn how to better deal with and respond to our own real life experiences. This can lead to the development of new coping methods that we may have not previously considered without the help of a novel.”

Jenny Ransone, Children’s Division Manager of the Marion County Public Library System, also attests to how literature constructs a conversational framework between children and adults. “Books o er caregivers the opportunity to talk about handling emotions even when they are negative or just plain hard,” says Ransone. “They help children develop empathy, kindness and acceptance of self and others, and can provide a constant source of support throughout their lives.”

Where to begin?

Tap your local book whisperer (aka knowledgeable librarian) for selecting volumes beyond predictable bestseller or popular author lists.

BOOK WEBSITES: Algorithms o er recommendations based on your chosen subject.

Marion County Public Library System: hip.marioncountyfl.org

Citrus County Library System: citruslibraries.org amazon.com whatshouldireadnext.com

The School of Life – London (theschooloflife.com/london) Bibliotherapists devise handpicked reading lists based on a 50-minute remote session via phone or Skype for $125.

For compendiums on curative book titles, check The Novel Cure or The Story Cure (for children) by Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin.