What is Bibliotherapy?

As Book Riot describes it: "The Guardian reported recently that some doctors in England are set to begin prescribing books instead of drugs for their patients with mild-to-moderate mental health concerns, so why not have someone whose job it is to prescribe books for whatever ails you, be it physical or existential? I suppose you might already have access to this kind of service if you are particularly close to a bookseller or librarian (or if you have poor boundaries and tell anyone who will listen about your issues–speaking of, there’s a book for that). How great would it be if you could make an appointment or have a regular date with your bibliotherapist where you could dish about your mood, your travel plans, the annoying thing your husband is doing lately, your recent bout of insomnia, and the song that won’t get out of your head, and they would prescribe the perfect book to make you happy again?"

This is what I propose to do for you, my dear readers. Contact me (see the form in the sidebar) with your stories, problems, your woes and worries. Where it asks for a name, write any tagline you wish that sums up your message. I will post your message and my reply here on this blog within 24 hours. Please include a preferred format: fiction/non-fiction, poetry, essays, short story. You may also make a note of any type of writing that you absolutely cannot stand to read. PLEASE NOTE: If you accidentally put your real name or any identifying info, I will keep it out of the post and change your name to match your message's content. I will keep everything private to protect your identity. I only want to help you, so here's my promise to never use the knowledge you give me for anything other than bibliotherapy.

I have always sought and found solace in books my whole life. I wish to share that peace and joy with you, my darling fellow readers.

With great love and compassion, best is a book twice read,
Your Bibliotherapist

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Dear Bibliotherapist, from Too Tired to be Happy

Dear Bibliotherapist, I've been struggling with depression and I need help. I want so desperately to be happy, but I'm just too TIRED to be happy. I want to do plenty of things, but I just don't have the energy and end up sleeping instead. What do I do? Do you have a book or poem for me that might be able to help?
-Too Tired to be Happy

Oh, my dear reader. My heart goes out to you. I'm so sorry that you have to deal with this exhaustion, which I am no stranger to. One of the worst parts of depression is the exhaustion that traps and binds you closer to your sadness. It keeps you from being able to rise above it all, because you only feel safe in the bliss of sleep. It gets better, love, I promise. Please have faith that it does get better.

I have a poem for you, for sure. This is one of my absolute favorite poems, and I used to have it memorized. It's by the great Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Since I'm not sure if I'm allowed to copy and paste a poem on a blog such as this so I'll just link it here. The title is The Day is Done. 

 Another book that I have for you, I haven't even finished reading yet but it's done me quite some good for being a self-help book. You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero was a huge surprise to me. I've laughed out loud at how absurdly simple she makes happiness seem. I have struggled with depression my entire life, and I've just recently started getting out of a slump of depression-induced exhaustion. I know how you feel, Too Tired to be Happy. The author of this book has the same view as most of us 20-somethings(any age-somethings really) do about self-help books: sneering disbelief in their power, and downright disdain for all the touchy-feely crap. This chick is no-nonsense and her tongue-in-cheek attitude has me actually wanting to try her methods, and hey guess what? They work. Her main goal is to get you to love yourself. Which is what we should all be doing, loving ourselves irrevocably and unapologetically.

Two books that just hit the shelves that you may want to check out(they're next on my to-read list) are Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson and Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert (yes the one that we all imagine as Julia Roberts thanks to that movie about eating, praying and loving).

 You will overcome this. I promise. Just keep waking up every day, feel the sun on your face, embrace another chance to make things better, and take joy in everything you can. Especially books!
Happy reading!
Best is a book twice read,

Your Bibliotherapist
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