Why You Should Pick Up A Novel If You're Feeling Lost

We all read for a variety of reasons: for school assignments, for pleasure, to remain "in the know," to escape from reality. But reading literature, particularly if it's relevant to your current life stage and situation, can have a profound effect on your psyche. This concept is the central tenant of bibliotherapy, defined as "the prescribing of fiction for life's ailments" by practicing bibliotherapists and co-authors of The Novel Cure, Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin. While their therapeutic practice isn't based in medicine per se, the colleagues and long-time friends have been helping those interested in connecting with their inner selves via the written word since 2008.  "One of the main side effects of reading literature is that it can, in incredible and fundamental ways, change how you see the world," Elderkin told The Huffington Post. "We started to realize that [many people have] experienced that at some point or another in their lives -- when reading a novel opened up the world for them in a new way."  The scientific benefits of reading abound, from reducing stress and improving sleep quality to easing depression symptoms and protecting the brain against Alzheimer's disease. One 2013 study even found that reading literary fiction can help you be a more empathetic person by giving you the experience of being "emotionally transported" to other places and relating to new characters. Seeking solace in the world of li...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news