Do you have a book addiction?

Please note, I am no licensed therapist or psychologist. I’m just an author and fellow reader who cares about you and wants to make sure you don’t miss out on real life.

It’s 9:00 p.m. and you have your book in hand. You tell yourself you’re only going to read ONE chapter before turning off your light and pulling up the covers. Then the next thing you know, it’s 2:00 a.m. and you have a 7:00 a.m. meeting where you’re leading the presentation. 

Why do we do this to ourselves? 

For me, it’s because I get totally engrossed in the story and I have to find out what happens next (this is your goal as an author; to keep people turning pages). I fall in love with the characters and their personalities, and for a moment, those characters are just words on a page. They live and breathe in my mind’s eye, and I get to accompany them on their journeys. 

This is my favorite part about stories. And reading, when done in moderation, can do AMAZING things for our brains.

What reading does to our brain:

• Stories connect us to each other through shared experiences. Studies show that the brain activity of someone sharing a story and someone listening mirror each other. Both are experiencing similar emotions and thoughts as the story is shared and your brain patterns are syncing through this connection. 
• Stories also help us make sense of our world. We can learn so much about how our world works through the stories of others, such as reading something about a different country and how they do things.
• When we hear stories of people who went through hard things, it give us greater empathy for others.
• They can also transports us to other worlds. Fantasy anyone?
• Stories also improve our mood, lowers our stress, helps us feel less lonely, and generally happier all around.
• They can help us recognize our own experiences for what they are and learn from them.

However, there is a darker side to reading that I think we in the book community should talk about more.

The Problem:

There are many times I have used a book to destress, or fill a quiet evening because I need to reset my mental state. Reading my latest fiction book for ten to twenty minutes at a time often helps me refocus and get back to work. 

Reading is a fun and engaging activity. One that can take you on journeys to faraway lands, climbing the highest mountains, and meeting the most unique people imaginable. However—and maybe more than we realize—we spend too much of our valuable time reading and neglect our very real responsibilities.

Some experts claim we read excessively because we seek escapism (guilty!). Others say we do it to avoid FOMO (or Fear of Missing Out) on the latest, trendiest stories. Still others say we do it because it triggers the reward mechanism in our brain, releasing dopamine, and making us seek that need to read more and more.

Reading addiction, also known as bibliomania or book addiction, is characterized by an excessive and compulsiveneed to read, often to the detriment of other responsibilities and activities. Individuals with a reading addiction may find it challenging to control their reading habits, spending an excessive amount of time immersed in books at the expense of social interactions, work, or sleep.Venture Book Club

So how do we tell if we are addicted to reading?

Identify the Problem:

Ask yourself these seven questions to see if reading is becoming your addiction.

1. When friends ask to go out, do you generally decline to stay home alone and read a book? 
2. Do you hide in your room with a locked door so you can read undisturbed more than an hour at a time?
3. Do you bring your books into the shower?
4. Have you developed bruises because you keep dropping your book (or e-reader!) on your face from constantly reading underneath the covers?
5. Do you go to a bookstore to only buy one book but come home with ten?
6. Is your library check-out limit maxed out every week?
7. Do you remember anything from the book you just finished?

Solutions:

The first step is to recognize that you have a problem. 

Name it. 

Say it out loud. 

By stating that you have this problem, you are able to face the fact that you do indeed have one.

The next step is to identify your triggers and patterns. If stressful situations at home or work trigger this need to read, consider ways to alleviate that stress, or find other ways to work through it. For me, I’ve found exercise is a great outlet. 

Involved your friends or loved ones and set limits. If you’re constantly staying home to read your latest book, tell your friend or family member to give you one hour to read before hauling you out to dinner or that escape room you’ve talked about.

Find support groups. Reader groups are great ways to have more connection in your bookish life. You can share and discuss ideas with like-minded people. You can also share your struggle with reading too much and ask for ideas on how to curb your habit. It’s even better to join an in-person group. Then you can have face-to-face discussions and stimulate more parts of your brain, boosting your overall mental health. 

If your reading addiction truly is controlling your life, in the way drugs or alcohol might, seek professional help, and I don’t mean from your local bookstore!

Conclusion:

In all seriousness, it is important to distinguish between a hobby you’re passionate about and a real addition (“defined as not having control over doing, taking or using something to the point where it could be harmful to you.” ~ NHS.UK).

Addictions, in any form causes real detriment to your life and your well-being. Be intentional and set limits when it comes to your reading.

As an author, I want you to enjoy your reading experience; savor the adventures hidden within the pages of every book. But I don’t want you to forget to live life outside of the pages too. Because that’s where the best adventures come from.

Read wisely my friend!

Other sources (some serious and some not):

Venture Book Club

Reading is freezing your life

The Guardian

Popsugar