very first memories takes place when I was about three or four years old it was
was about three or four years old it was
was about three or four years old it was night time I was in bed and I couldn’t
night time I was in bed and I couldn’t
night time I was in bed and I couldn’t sleep I laid there unmoving staring at
sleep I laid there unmoving staring at
sleep I laid there unmoving staring at the ceiling and the reason that I
the ceiling and the reason that I
the ceiling and the reason that I couldn’t sleep was because I was filled
couldn’t sleep was because I was filled
couldn’t sleep was because I was filled with an overwhelming sense of anxiety
with an overwhelming sense of anxiety
with an overwhelming sense of anxiety and fear you see I was absolutely
and fear you see I was absolutely
and fear you see I was absolutely convinced that a lion was going to jump
convinced that a lion was going to jump
convinced that a lion was going to jump through my window and attack me now
through my window and attack me now
through my window and attack me now there’s no basis for this fear i was in
there’s no basis for this fear i was in
there’s no basis for this fear i was in ontario where we don’t have lions and
ontario where we don’t have lions and
ontario where we don’t have lions and even if the Lions somehow managed to
even if the Lions somehow managed to
even if the Lions somehow managed to make its way into my backyard I was on
make its way into my backyard I was on
make its way into my backyard I was on the second floor of a house with a
the second floor of a house with a
the second floor of a house with a closed window but even being reassured
closed window but even being reassured
closed window but even being reassured about the impossibility of it happening
about the impossibility of it happening
about the impossibility of it happening I was still filled with fear this was
I was still filled with fear this was
I was still filled with fear this was the first time that I remember having
the first time that I remember having
the first time that I remember having these feelings but unfortunately it
these feelings but unfortunately it
these feelings but unfortunately it wasn’t the last over the years I’ve had
wasn’t the last over the years I’ve had
wasn’t the last over the years I’ve had many moments of this almost paralyzing
many moments of this almost paralyzing
many moments of this almost paralyzing fear where I can’t sleep where I can’t
fear where I can’t sleep where I can’t
fear where I can’t sleep where I can’t eat where I constantly feel sick to my
eat where I constantly feel sick to my
eat where I constantly feel sick to my stomach where it takes all of my energy
stomach where it takes all of my energy
stomach where it takes all of my energy to just get up and most annoyingly where
to just get up and most annoyingly where
to just get up and most annoyingly where I can’t stop the neverending thoughts
I can’t stop the neverending thoughts
I can’t stop the neverending thoughts going through my head that tell me
going through my head that tell me
going through my head that tell me something terrible is about to happen
something terrible is about to happen
something terrible is about to happen when I first heard the quote by Mark
when I first heard the quote by Mark
when I first heard the quote by Mark Twain that says I’ve been through some
Twain that says I’ve been through some
Twain that says I’ve been through some terrible things in my life some of which
terrible things in my life some of which
terrible things in my life some of which actually happened I thought to myself
actually happened I thought to myself
actually happened I thought to myself that is exactly what anxiety is like
that is exactly what anxiety is like
that is exactly what anxiety is like because I have been through many
because I have been through many
because I have been through many terrible things in my life but I have
terrible things in my life but I have
terrible things in my life but I have only experienced them in
only experienced them in
only experienced them in mind most of those things that I thought
mind most of those things that I thought
mind most of those things that I thought about incessantly that filled me with so
about incessantly that filled me with so
about incessantly that filled me with so much fear never actually happened it
much fear never actually happened it
much fear never actually happened it wasn’t until 15 years ago more than 20
wasn’t until 15 years ago more than 20
wasn’t until 15 years ago more than 20 years after my first experiences with
years after my first experiences with
years after my first experiences with anxiety that I was finally diagnosed and
anxiety that I was finally diagnosed and
anxiety that I was finally diagnosed and given a name and help for what I had
given a name and help for what I had
given a name and help for what I had which was generalized anxiety disorder
which was generalized anxiety disorder
which was generalized anxiety disorder and things slowly started to improve but
and things slowly started to improve but
and things slowly started to improve but I still felt very much alone you see
I still felt very much alone you see
I still felt very much alone you see when I was growing up and when I was
when I was growing up and when I was
when I was growing up and when I was first diagnosed no one really knew
first diagnosed no one really knew
first diagnosed no one really knew anything about mental illness it was a
anything about mental illness it was a
anything about mental illness it was a lot of education about mental illness
lot of education about mental illness
lot of education about mental illness it’s not like today where there’s
it’s not like today where there’s
it’s not like today where there’s workshops in schools and there’s
workshops in schools and there’s
workshops in schools and there’s resources hand it out it seems like
resources hand it out it seems like
resources hand it out it seems like everybody has been educated on signs of
everybody has been educated on signs of
everybody has been educated on signs of mental illness and how to support people
mental illness and how to support people
mental illness and how to support people but I didn’t have any of that I didn’t
but I didn’t have any of that I didn’t
but I didn’t have any of that I didn’t really have anything my parents my
really have anything my parents my
really have anything my parents my family they just called me a worrier and
family they just called me a worrier and
family they just called me a worrier and they would say stop worrying which of
they would say stop worrying which of
they would say stop worrying which of course is impossible for somebody with
course is impossible for somebody with
course is impossible for somebody with anxiety or I would hear things like it’s
anxiety or I would hear things like it’s
anxiety or I would hear things like it’s all in your head which means they didn’t
all in your head which means they didn’t
all in your head which means they didn’t actually think that what you have is a
actually think that what you have is a
actually think that what you have is a real problem however I made it through
real problem however I made it through
real problem however I made it through this time scarred but not broken
this time scarred but not broken
this time scarred but not broken managing but not healed and several
managing but not healed and several
managing but not healed and several years ago I started wondering how did I
years ago I started wondering how did I
years ago I started wondering how did I get through this time what helped me to
get through this time what helped me to
get through this time what helped me to cope when I had so many days weeks and
cope when I had so many days weeks and
cope when I had so many days weeks and even months of almost paralyzing fear
even months of almost paralyzing fear
even months of almost paralyzing fear how did I get through this and I realize
how did I get through this and I realize
how did I get through this and I realize that there actually was something that
that there actually was something that
that there actually was something that helped me get through this something
helped me get through this something
helped me get through this something that I relied on year after year and
that I relied on year after year and
that I relied on year after year and that something was reading now as many
that something was reading now as many
that something was reading now as many memories as I have of anxious times in
memories as I have of anxious times in
memories as I have of anxious times in my life I haven’t
my life I haven’t
my life I haven’t equal amount of memories of reading
equal amount of memories of reading
equal amount of memories of reading books I can remember being a little girl
books I can remember being a little girl
books I can remember being a little girl sitting with a big pile of books
sitting with a big pile of books
sitting with a big pile of books desperately trying to figure out what
desperately trying to figure out what
desperately trying to figure out what the words on the pages were asking my
the words on the pages were asking my
the words on the pages were asking my parents please teach me how to read and
parents please teach me how to read and
parents please teach me how to read and once I could read I took a book with me
once I could read I took a book with me
once I could read I took a book with me everywhere I went I always had a book
everywhere I went I always had a book
everywhere I went I always had a book with me and I realized that reading
with me and I realized that reading
with me and I realized that reading actually helped me to cope with my
actually helped me to cope with my
actually helped me to cope with my feelings of anxiety because reading
feelings of anxiety because reading
feelings of anxiety because reading helped me take my mind off of whatever
helped me take my mind off of whatever
helped me take my mind off of whatever was worrying me at the time and this
was worrying me at the time and this
was worrying me at the time and this isn’t actually even a new concept the
isn’t actually even a new concept the
isn’t actually even a new concept the idea that reading can heal has been
idea that reading can heal has been
idea that reading can heal has been around for a long time I started
around for a long time I started
around for a long time I started researching it a couple of years ago and
researching it a couple of years ago and
researching it a couple of years ago and I found I’m not the only person this has
I found I’m not the only person this has
I found I’m not the only person this has helped not the only person that reading
helped not the only person that reading
helped not the only person that reading has helped with dealing with a mental
has helped with dealing with a mental
has helped with dealing with a mental illness it’s been around for centuries
illness it’s been around for centuries
illness it’s been around for centuries over doorways to ancient libraries they
over doorways to ancient libraries they
over doorways to ancient libraries they have found inscriptions that read that
have found inscriptions that read that
have found inscriptions that read that the library is healing to the soul
the library is healing to the soul
the library is healing to the soul that’s from 2,000 years ago William
that’s from 2,000 years ago William
that’s from 2,000 years ago William Shakespeare wrote come and take choice
Shakespeare wrote come and take choice
Shakespeare wrote come and take choice of all my library and so beguiled i
of all my library and so beguiled i
of all my library and so beguiled i sorrow meaning that reading will lead
sorrow meaning that reading will lead
sorrow meaning that reading will lead you away from your sorrows so reading as
you away from your sorrows so reading as
you away from your sorrows so reading as healing has been around for a long time
healing has been around for a long time
healing has been around for a long time today counselors use what they call
today counselors use what they call
today counselors use what they call bibliotherapy and what bibliotherapy is
bibliotherapy and what bibliotherapy is
bibliotherapy and what bibliotherapy is is the reading of specific text with the
is the reading of specific text with the
is the reading of specific text with the purpose of healing so counselors can
purpose of healing so counselors can
purpose of healing so counselors can prescribe a book just like a doctor can
prescribe a book just like a doctor can
prescribe a book just like a doctor can prescribe medication and they have found
prescribe medication and they have found
prescribe medication and they have found that when patients read the book that
that when patients read the book that
that when patients read the book that they prescribe it actually reduces their
they prescribe it actually reduces their
they prescribe it actually reduces their treatment time and then it increases
treatment time and then it increases
treatment time and then it increases their insight and behavior change a few
their insight and behavior change a few
their insight and behavior change a few years ago a book was published called
years ago a book was published called
years ago a book was published called the novel cure from abandonment to zest
the novel cure from abandonment to zest
the novel cure from abandonment to zest lessness 751 books to cure what ails you
lessness 751 books to cure what ails you
lessness 751 books to cure what ails you by ella berthoud
by ella berthoud
by ella berthoud and Susan elderkin now this book has 751
and Susan elderkin now this book has 751
and Susan elderkin now this book has 751 ailments you figure out what your
ailments you figure out what your
ailments you figure out what your ailment is once you do it will lead you
ailment is once you do it will lead you
ailment is once you do it will lead you to a book to read to help relieve you of
to a book to read to help relieve you of
to a book to read to help relieve you of the symptoms of that those ailment some
the symptoms of that those ailment some
the symptoms of that those ailment some of these the ailments they list are
of these the ailments they list are
of these the ailments they list are serious ones some not so serious like
serious ones some not so serious like
serious ones some not so serious like hating being short hating your nose or
hating being short hating your nose or
hating being short hating your nose or suffering from itchy teeth and once you
suffering from itchy teeth and once you
suffering from itchy teeth and once you know what what your Hamlet is they’ll
know what what your Hamlet is they’ll
know what what your Hamlet is they’ll tell you to read a book that will help
tell you to read a book that will help
tell you to read a book that will help you so for those of you who are
you so for those of you who are
you so for those of you who are suffering from a broken heart they
suffering from a broken heart they
suffering from a broken heart they recommend that you read Charlotte
recommend that you read Charlotte
recommend that you read Charlotte brontë’s Jane Eyre for those of you who
brontë’s Jane Eyre for those of you who
brontë’s Jane Eyre for those of you who hate your nose they recommend reading
hate your nose they recommend reading
hate your nose they recommend reading perfume the story of a murderer and if
perfume the story of a murderer and if
perfume the story of a murderer and if you have anxiety like I do then they
you have anxiety like I do then they
you have anxiety like I do then they recommend that you read Henry James the
recommend that you read Henry James the
recommend that you read Henry James the portrait of a lady the idea is that
portrait of a lady the idea is that
portrait of a lady the idea is that whatever your ailment is you can help
whatever your ailment is you can help
whatever your ailment is you can help relieve symptoms of those ailment by
relieve symptoms of those ailment by
relieve symptoms of those ailment by reading now I found it doesn’t have to
reading now I found it doesn’t have to
reading now I found it doesn’t have to be a specific book reading any book will
be a specific book reading any book will
be a specific book reading any book will do and there are many reasons for this
do and there are many reasons for this
do and there are many reasons for this firstly when we read we are able to
firstly when we read we are able to
firstly when we read we are able to enter into a new world and forget about
enter into a new world and forget about
enter into a new world and forget about our own for a while we become new people
our own for a while we become new people
our own for a while we become new people we see different times different places
we see different times different places
we see different times different places and we experience different things we
and we experience different things we
and we experience different things we can read the Harry Potter series and
can read the Harry Potter series and
can read the Harry Potter series and enter into the magical world of Hogwarts
enter into the magical world of Hogwarts
enter into the magical world of Hogwarts and witches and wizards and Quidditch
and witches and wizards and Quidditch
and witches and wizards and Quidditch and we leave our own muddle existence
and we leave our own muddle existence
and we leave our own muddle existence behind or we can go with katniss and
behind or we can go with katniss and
behind or we can go with katniss and peeta into the arena and fight against
peeta into the arena and fight against
peeta into the arena and fight against the capital and the corrupt president
the capital and the corrupt president
the capital and the corrupt president snow in The Hunger Games we can meet
snow in The Hunger Games we can meet
snow in The Hunger Games we can meet Augustus when hazel grace goes to a teen
Augustus when hazel grace goes to a teen
Augustus when hazel grace goes to a teen cancer support group we can laugh cry as
cancer support group we can laugh cry as
cancer support group we can laugh cry as hazel and Gus fall in love all while
hazel and Gus fall in love all while
hazel and Gus fall in love all while battling the effects of
battling the effects of
battling the effects of cancer in The Fault in Our Stars when we
cancer in The Fault in Our Stars when we
cancer in The Fault in Our Stars when we read books we are able to get out of our
read books we are able to get out of our
read books we are able to get out of our own minds for a while and that can be a
own minds for a while and that can be a
own minds for a while and that can be a huge relief and sometimes sometimes when
huge relief and sometimes sometimes when
huge relief and sometimes sometimes when we go back into our thoughts we find
we go back into our thoughts we find
we go back into our thoughts we find that our symptoms have lessened slightly
that our symptoms have lessened slightly
that our symptoms have lessened slightly another way that reading can help those
another way that reading can help those
another way that reading can help those of us who suffer from a mental illness
of us who suffer from a mental illness
of us who suffer from a mental illness is that it can show us that we are not
is that it can show us that we are not
is that it can show us that we are not alone and that is something that many
alone and that is something that many
alone and that is something that many people with a mental illness feel we
people with a mental illness feel we
people with a mental illness feel we feel that there’s no one to understand
feel that there’s no one to understand
feel that there’s no one to understand us no one who’s going through the exact
us no one who’s going through the exact
us no one who’s going through the exact same things we are we feel alone but
same things we are we feel alone but
same things we are we feel alone but when we read you see other characters
when we read you see other characters
when we read you see other characters people who are going through the same
people who are going through the same
people who are going through the same things we are and it’s right there on
things we are and it’s right there on
things we are and it’s right there on the page in front of us and we just go
the page in front of us and we just go
the page in front of us and we just go that’s it that’s exactly how I feel and
that’s it that’s exactly how I feel and
that’s it that’s exactly how I feel and we feel better we read about Alaska in
we feel better we read about Alaska in
we feel better we read about Alaska in Looking for Alaska who has depression or
Looking for Alaska who has depression or
Looking for Alaska who has depression or Audrey in finding Audrey who has social
Audrey in finding Audrey who has social
Audrey in finding Audrey who has social anxiety disorder or adam and the
anxiety disorder or adam and the
anxiety disorder or adam and the unlikely hero in room 13 B who has
unlikely hero in room 13 B who has
unlikely hero in room 13 B who has depression they show us that we are not
depression they show us that we are not
depression they show us that we are not alone and that also can be a huge relief
alone and that also can be a huge relief
alone and that also can be a huge relief to know that there are others think like
to know that there are others think like
to know that there are others think like we do act like we do and feel like we do
we do act like we do and feel like we do
we do act like we do and feel like we do another benefit of reading is that it
another benefit of reading is that it
another benefit of reading is that it lowers our stress levels and when we’re
lowers our stress levels and when we’re
lowers our stress levels and when we’re anxious even when we’re anxious like
anxious even when we’re anxious like
anxious even when we’re anxious like over everyday things like a test we have
over everyday things like a test we have
over everyday things like a test we have coming out for an essay we have to write
coming out for an essay we have to write
coming out for an essay we have to write that causes tension in our muscles and
that causes tension in our muscles and
that causes tension in our muscles and it strains our heart but when we read it
it strains our heart but when we read it
it strains our heart but when we read it relaxes those muscles and it releases
relaxes those muscles and it releases
relaxes those muscles and it releases the tension and we don’t even have to
the tension and we don’t even have to
the tension and we don’t even have to read for long periods of time to get
read for long periods of time to get
read for long periods of time to get this effect studies show that after just
this effect studies show that after just
this effect studies show that after just six minutes of reading our stress levels
six minutes of reading our stress levels
six minutes of reading our stress levels lower and they can lower by up to 68
lower and they can lower by up to 68
lower and they can lower by up to 68 % of old the stress reliever study from
% of old the stress reliever study from
% of old the stress reliever study from going for a walk to listening to music
going for a walk to listening to music
going for a walk to listening to music reading relief stress the most now I am
reading relief stress the most now I am
reading relief stress the most now I am not trying to say that reading alone can
not trying to say that reading alone can
not trying to say that reading alone can cure any ailment especially ones a
cure any ailment especially ones a
cure any ailment especially ones a serious as depression and anxiety but
serious as depression and anxiety but
serious as depression and anxiety but what I do know is that reading can help
what I do know is that reading can help
what I do know is that reading can help us deal with those symptoms reading
us deal with those symptoms reading
us deal with those symptoms reading takes us out of our own mind for a while
takes us out of our own mind for a while
takes us out of our own mind for a while it gives us relief reading shows us that
it gives us relief reading shows us that
it gives us relief reading shows us that we are not alone that there are other
we are not alone that there are other
we are not alone that there are other people just like us reading comforts us
people just like us reading comforts us
people just like us reading comforts us reading relaxes us reading gives us
reading relaxes us reading gives us
reading relaxes us reading gives us peace now when I’m feeling anxious
peace now when I’m feeling anxious
peace now when I’m feeling anxious especially when I’m feeling anxious at
especially when I’m feeling anxious at
especially when I’m feeling anxious at night and I can’t sleep I open a book it
night and I can’t sleep I open a book it
night and I can’t sleep I open a book it might take me a few minutes to be able
might take me a few minutes to be able
might take me a few minutes to be able to focus on the words on the page but a
to focus on the words on the page but a
to focus on the words on the page but a keep reading and sometimes that takes
keep reading and sometimes that takes
keep reading and sometimes that takes willpower it’s hard but I keep reading
willpower it’s hard but I keep reading
willpower it’s hard but I keep reading and eventually I am able to enter into
and eventually I am able to enter into
and eventually I am able to enter into the world in my hands to feel the
the world in my hands to feel the
the world in my hands to feel the release of my worries and when I finally
release of my worries and when I finally
release of my worries and when I finally put that book down to fall into sleep
put that book down to fall into sleep
put that book down to fall into sleep without fears of lions jumping through
without fears of lions jumping through
without fears of lions jumping through my window thank you
my window thank you
my window thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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