Introducing: Your Bibliotherapist

Greetings and Salutations!

I suppose I should have written this introduction when I first opened this blog, but that train has left the station. Better late than never, right?

Through Google's glorious inter-connected flow, you can find out who I am through my blogger profile(also woefully un-finished, are we sensing a pattern yet?), so this won't be chock-full of personal facts. I just want to tell you, dear readers, why I want to help you and a bit of who I am. I want you to trust me.

I've struggled with severe depression and anxiety issues my whole life. I've had trouble getting them correctly diagnosed over the years, so I don't even care to attempt labeling it any more. My battle is my own personal battle, and that's that. The two main things I have learned throughout this long war is as follows:

1. I love books. I love words, I love reading them, I love writing them. They help me find my purpose, they help me dream and remember better days. They are my solace in the dark. They have been for years. Reading inspires me to write, inspires me to fight against my demons with pen and ink. 
2. I am at my best when I am helping people. It's that simple. When I am taking care of others, and helping them find their hope, their joy, their purpose, I feel like I'm finally myself again, and I'm actually making a difference. 

That's why I started this blog. What better way of bringing these two loves together then by this blog? Huge thanks to the people at Book Riot for thinking this one up. When I read the "job description"(you can see it up there on the top of my page, keep scrolling up, there it is!) I knew I had to do something like this. Talk to people, start a blog, anything. Since I'm a writer, I figured a blog would probably be the best way to go. Not very many newspapers want a second "Dear Abby"-styled column. But I know there are plenty of other bibliophiles and book-lovers out there who struggle with problems, just as I do. And it doesn't have to be about depression, or anxiety. It can be anything. Going through a divorce? I have a book for that. Changing jobs? I have a book for that. Traveling across the world and you need to refill your Kindle to distract you from your fear of flying? I have a bunch of books for that, none of which feature plane crashes. Please, let me help you. Let me give you a new world inside the covers of a worn paperback or on your Kindle, or however you best read. Within the literary world there are a myriad of places to go to find yourself again, no matter who you are. That's the beauty and wonder of reading. 

You might say that you're a picky reader and you want to choose your books yourself. You might say that reading doesn't do anything for your worries and your personal traumas. Fair enough. My word is definitely not gospel. I'm not even a doctor. I'm just a blogger with an English degree trying not to go crazy herself. I'm not even asking you to give me money! Just let me help you. If you don't like the books I suggest, that's fine, you can tell me so and we can try again, or you can go on your merry way. If you think that reading can't possibly help in any way to change your life, I honestly have to ask you if you've ever read a really, truly good book. Just give it a try, okay? You have nothing to lose, I promise. 

Maybe it was the way I was raised, where I taught myself to read at the age of four and devoured anything with words that I could get my hands on. I've always adored books, even when I hated the way the stories went. That's probably when I decided I wanted to write. Then I realized how truly magical the world of writing and reading is. I can make up worlds all my own, and my characters can do whatever they need to do to find their place and solve their problems. It's beautiful. Sorry, tangent. 

Books are stories from eras past or released today. There are billions upon billions to choose from. I believe that throughout the entire history of humanity and the written word, there will be at least one book written for each star in the sky. And they are all written by people like you and me. People with heartaches, people who have gone through incredibly traumatic experiences and suffer from the same sadness that we do. Let them help you. I'm really just the middleman here. I just want to metaphorically see you smile again, and the best way I can do that is read what you send me, and put a good book in your hand that I truly believe will help heal your heart and soul. I might be just an anonymous face on the internet, another 20-something blogger, but I truly just want to help you. Will you go on a book-reading journey with me?

Best is a Book Twice Read,

Your Bibliotherapist

Dear Bibliotherapist, from Anxiety Girl

I have an anxiety disorder and lately life has been such a roller coaster that I have been losing too much sleep and unable to quiet my mind much at all. Might you have a suggestion of some sort of fiction that will help me get outside of my own head?

-Anxiety Girl

Dear Anxiety Girl, 
I'm so sorry about your roller coaster life, and your anxiety disorder. I too suffer from both of those, so keep your head up, and know that we both fight the good fight!! As for your request, I have in mind a few books to help, but I would also like to suggest two non-fiction books that will hopefully strike your fancy. 

The first book I want to suggest to you is Heroes and Monsters: An Honest Look at the Struggle within All of Us by Josh Riebock. When I read this about two years ago I had no idea what I was in for. I was often bewildered, in a good way, at the journey I was taking with this book. It's a very entertaining read that doesn't pull the punches. It's gut-wrenchingly honest, but doesn't leave a sour taste in your mouth like some other books that claim "utter real-ness". It may help you sort out your roller coaster ride life by the end of it. 

The second book I want to suggest is a memoir by Rachel Friedman: The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Lost: A Memoir of Three Continents, Two Friends, and One Unexpected Adventure. This one has stuck with me over the years, Rachel's memories of traveling to Ireland and Australia creating a mouth-watering wanderlust in my heart every time I think of them. You say you want to get outside your own head. Whenever that plagued me during my college years, my mom used to tell me to volunteer or do some sort of self-challenging work, and my father would tell me to travel. If you can't really do either at the moment, why not read about both? 

The last bit of fiction I'll offer you are two different authors whom you can choose freely of their works: William Wordsworth and the great F. Scott Fitzgerald. Both of these authors are so popular and so fantastic, I can't suggest just one certain work to you in fear you've already read it. I suggest Wordsworth because his poetry, along with Longfellow's, has always had a soothing effect on my soul. Fitzgerald is such a genius with his novels and short stories that they utterly transport you to another time entirely.

The two non-fiction books I want to suggest to you I will suffer myself to only just mention them, seeing as this post is probably running entirely too long. John and Stasi Eldredge are masters in their field of Christianity and seeking out one's true self. Two of their books may do you some good in this troubled time:  Captivating Revised & Updated: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul and Becoming Myself: Embracing God's Dream of You. These books have changed my life every time I have read them. I hope they help you.

One last bit of advice, have you tried journaling? Take deep breaths, Anxiety Girl. You'll get through this season. 



Happy reading, and many thanks for writing to Bibliotherapy, etc! I hope that I have helped by guiding you to a good book.

Best is a book twice read,

Your Bibliotherapist

P.S. Totally forgot one more book. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. He's a god among authors.