Reading and Mental Health: A Journey

For World Book Day on 3 March 2022, Book Club and Creative Writing Group member Tilly shares her own journey with reading, from being a book worm as a child to being unable to read when her mental health deteriorated and finding her love of reading (and writing!) again during the pandemic thanks to our Book Club!

She writes:

“As a child I devoured books, my head always stuck in something, a book or a magazine, digesting stories with ease. My favourite being “Five Children and It” by E. Nesbit and my grandparents bought me the subsequent books in the trilogy, “The Phoenix and the Carpet” and then “The Story of the Amulet”. I continued to read well into my teens, Douglas Adams, Alan Sillitoe, Ray Bradbury and Issac Asimov being authors of choice. I passed my English O-level finding book reports being the easiest part of the curriculum!

But when I was 21 I had a breakdown and my concentration was shot to pieces. I worked hard to restore it by reading magazines and reference books, eventually I re-read children’s books like “Alice in Wonderland” and “Alice Through the Looking Glass”. Unfortunately aged 40 I was sectioned again and I had little inclination or desire to read, it was just too difficult!

During the COVID lockdown I participated in online groups and eventually I took tentative steps to join the MFT Book Club with Anna. I forced myself to read at least two chapters a week to be able to understand what the others were discussing. It was civilised and fun and I discovered that I enjoyed Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, “The Little Prince” and “Tom’s Midnight Garden”.

With my love of books restored I have read Stephen King, Brian Keaney and Matt Haig at home just for fun, as well as my set books for the book group 😊

I find reading relaxing & it eases boredom & inspires me to write my own little stories. I also like audio books they relax me and make me just a tiny bit sleepy which is never a bad thing!

Want to write a blog for us?

We’re always keen to share mental health stories or give a platform to anyone wanting to share thoughts and educate others about mental health or wellbeing. If you’d like to write a blog or create a video blog for us, a poem, a song or a piece of art, you don’t have to be an expert at it, we can coach you through it! Just get in touch with Connie, our Communications Lead, at connie@maryfrancestrust.org.uk

Share