I am participating in the Mental Health Giveaway hop, hosted by I am a Reader Not a Writer and Reading in Twilight because it is a topic that is near and dear to me. I’ve been dealing with anxiety disorder pretty much since I was a teenager, although looking back I think it actually started much younger. I also suffered from adolescent-onset clinical depression, something that I really didn’t conquer until my son was born. I know what it’s like to freak out over things that “normal” people would consider silly.
For example, I’m afraid to drive on the highway because merging gives me the sweats. When I first met my boyfriend’s family, I don’t think I spoke the entire night. New people freak me out. I almost pass out from confrontation. When someone yells at me, I go into immediate “fight or flight” response. As a result, I try to please everyone even if it makes me miserable, just so they don’t get mad at me and force confrontation. I lay awake all night most nights berating myself for mistakes I’ve made 20 years ago. Minor mistakes that everyone else has already long forgotten about. Sometimes I panic over absolutely nothing at all. I live life walking around on eggshells of my own creation.
So yes, I know what it’s like to have mental health issues. According to NIMH, I’m not alone. About 18% of adults suffer from anxiety disorder. The average age of onset is 11 years old. Wow. I know I started having some major issues with anxiety around that age. That was the age that I lost my childhood dog, too, which was incredibly difficult for me.
Long-term medicines don’t help me. In fact, most made me go totally off the rails insane. When I was 18, a psychiatrist put me on Prozac. He was convinced I was bi-polar, despite the fact that I’d never been manic. Well, when you’re not bi-polar, taking a medicine for it can induce a manic phase. I almost put a screwdriver through my head, I was that suicidal and that far around the proverbial bend from it. Over the years, I tried a few other medications. They either make me feel sick, more anxious or like a zombie. I take Xanax for really bad panic attacks, it’s the only thing that works. The rest of the time, I just deal with it the best I can.
Reading has actually been the best medication in the world for me. I read to escape. When I was a teenager and in the early years of my issues, I read a lot of books about other teenagers dealing with mental health problems. Take a look at a few of my favorites (obviously they are affiliate links):
Mental Health Giveaway
Enter below for a chance to win one of the above books of your choice plus a $20 Amazon gift card so you can purchase books that make you feel good! Whether you deal with a mental health issue daily or just have bad days, we all need a mental health break! Giveaway is open to US Residents age 18+. It ends on March 27th.
Be sure to visit the other blogs in this giveaway hop:
I usually go right for a Nichols Spark novel.
I don’t have a specific book that I go to. When I need a break, I usually pick up a book I haven’t read before so I can fall deeper into the story. Thank you!
The booksI love to read when I need to get away are my old, dated Nancy Drew mysteries. Something about reading of Nancy wearing frocks, driving a roadster, and having a “special friend” in Ned. Simple times, fun stories.
I don’t have any one book in particular that I read when I’m looking for an escape. But when I need to “get away from it all”, I usually pick up a book in the paranormal genre.
(Nikki Marie on rafflecopter)
I really do not have a book in mind but my fiance helps me out when ever i am down and out she has been the biggest supporter for me.
I like reading a new book every time i need a break, it’s calms me!
The book I love to read when I need to get away is Anne of Green Gables.
Any book by Nora Roberts would be my favorite in order to just get away from it all.
I don’t really have a go-to book when I need some space. I reach for any book I can find when that happens.
The book I love to read when I need to get away is something by R. Frater.
When I just need a laugh and don’t have time for a whole novel, I go to my Calvin and Hobbes treasuries.
The book I love to read when I need to get away is A Confederacy of Dunces.
The book I love to read when I need to get away is the current SiFi with dragons. This lets my mine go wild for awhile and help when I must get back to real Earth.
I will read chicken soup for the soul when I need to get away.
I don’t have any one book in particular that I read when I’m looking for an escape. But when I need to “get away from it all”, I usually pick up a romance book.
My go-to book would have to be any sort of poetry, I love ones with short but good poems!
thanks for the giveaway
For me it’s not just one book or series really but a genre. I really enjoy paranormal stories when I want to get away from reality.
I read fiction, for exaple, Gregory Maguire, when I’m trying to escape reality. / danabeeman(at)gmail(dot)com
I like to read faith-based books!
The book I love to read when I need to get away is whatever’s on my bookshelf.
I like to read anything that is romance drama. I don’t have a particular book I go to because it changes
The book I read when I need to get away from it all isn’t a specific book because I don’t often reread books, but I do read a few books at a time usually, so when I just need to get away from it all I pick up the best book I’m reading at the time, sit in my favorite spot on the couch with my coffee, and read! Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
Thank you for supporting mental health awareness right now; it helps to fight the stigma!
I like to read anything by V.C. Andrews
I like to read paranormal romance or any of my favorite books in my bookshelf when I want to get away.
When I want to get away I like to read C.S Lewis’ Space trilogy!
I love to read historical fiction when I need to escape. It takes me to another place and time.
The book I love to read when I need to get away is anything from The Hobbit series. Thanks for the Giveaway !
I tend to read children’s a middle grade books in these situations- no sad stories allowed!
The book I love to read when I need to get away is Rodale’s Garden Answers.
Stormy Glenn and Gabrielle Evans are two favorite authors of mine that I go to when I desperately need a pick-me-up.
The book I love to read when I need to get away from it is Stephen Kings Gunslinger series. I really go into another world when I read them.
There isn’t a certain book I read to get away. If I need to go away from reality for a few hours I just read. It doesn’t have to be anything specific as long as I’m in a different world.
When I need to get away from it all, I try to find a nice urban fantasy or horror book. If I can’t find anything quickly. I’ll go to old favorites: Robert B. Parker for a wonderful mystery reread, or Stephen King for some excellent horror. I have other favorite mystery authors, too, that help for taking me away from it all. Fantasy seems to work best lately, though, because it is furthest from my reality, I think.
When I need to get away, I will pick up any book that I have been reading. It doesn’t matter to me what kind of book it is. I can get lost in any book.
The one book I love to read whenever I need to escape from my own anxiety/stress issues is “Twilight” — the first book of The Twilight Saga, by Stephenie Meyer. Getting immersed in the story of Bella and Edward totally makes me forget all the garbage dished out to me at work — at least, for a while….
Thanks so much for the giveaway!! : )
When I need escape, I generally go for the Harry Potter books. They always make me feel better.
Hmmm….I will go with a stephen king novel….it’s easy to lose myself in them.
The book I love to read when I need to get away is__. Firefly Lane
When I need to get away I read one of Sarah Dessen’s books. She has been a favorite author of mine for many years.
I love to read womens fiction books when I need to get away.
I really love reading anything by Kurt Vonnegut when I need to ‘get away from it all.’
The book I love to read when I need to get away is chicken soup for the soul books. they are awesome
The book I love to read when I need to get away is a romance novel usually.
The book genre I love to read when I need to get away are scifi & fantasy
The book I love to read when I need to get away is a historical romance, to get lost in a different time and a love story… perfect.
Thanks for the giveaway!
The book I love to read when I need to get away is any paranormal romances, then I can get lost in another world.
Thanks for the chance to win!