Reading books give you the ability to discover what is going to happen next. You relate yourself to the story and as it unfolds, you begin to feel a sense of assurance, knowing that you know how the story is going to end.
The next big event is just a page away, and it’s something I take comfort in when I feel like my life is unpredictable.
When I am reading a book, I know the story is already written and no mistakes I make could possibly change the outcome; it’s pretty much set in stone. The same doesn’t apply to our lives and this unpredictability is what upsets me.
In the end, I think it is just comforting to know that stories move forward and that one day I will reach the point I fear so much. And if those characters can go through so much pain and survive, surely I can, too.
Do you also turn to books to relieve anxiety?
