Anyone else here with a total addiction to the written word?

Question

I find myself going crazy without a book to read . And I will read anything - any sort of trashy stuff if I am bereft.
It feels on the edge of being compulsive not just want but total need

Answer 1

Books, Mmm, I think they may have been my saving Grace in a way. I was born into a bad set of circumstances, I don't want to go into it, but I will say I spent time alone and hurt as a child but I could read and books, to me, are like a magic carpet, I can lead any sort of life, I can go to any land in any age and get a real feel for being in another's shoes (from a book written by a person with talent/passion). I love extending myself continuously by reading books that progressively get heavier and more difficult to read (so rewarding), but I will confess that I will read labels on bottles and containers even just to go up the stairs. I can't stand Mills and Boonsey type books though. I write too.

Answer 2

very much so! Now that I'm on holiday break I've been stocking up at the library with absolute glee at being able to plunge myself into reading many books I've been longing to read. big fat books are so wonderful to swim in. and if I find myself somewhere without a book I practically don't know what to do. I wind up reading whatever text is around compulsively, no matter how banal.

Answer 3

TELL AN ADULT. i was in the same position as you a while back, albeit a little older. which worries me more. It really felt like i was betraying my friend at the time, but think about this when you tell an adult: "Would i rather have my friend be angry at me for a while, after she recieves treatment, or feel the guilt if she lands herself in the hospital when i could have stopped her before it got that far?" that 'it takes time' thing leaves her a lot of give in terms of when she's going to stop, so i wouldn't settle for it. cutting is a cry for help, and as her best friend, it is your job to do the right thing and let someone know. At least tell your parents, if not /hers/ so that the weight isn't all on your shoulders. That's a lot to deal with at your age. Just trust me on this one, not telling anyone could be very harmful for her and potentially yourself, all the stress is very bad indeed.

Answer 4

everyones said it so clearly lol but i thought i may as well add to it =]

when i walk into a library or a book shop... everything just seems to melt away and my biggest problem is limiting myself to a small number of books because there is no way ill get them all home and all read within 3 weeks or whatever.

sometimes i wish i had a watch that could stop time like that kids program... bernards watch. and i could stom time and just read. read every single book...

there are so many authors and so many books you just want everything to stop so you can catch up.

reading is a great escape and i always make sure i have a book to read.

i give anything a try...

happy reading =]

Answer 5

I think I am with you. I too just want to go on and on reading. Looking back at most of the time I spent, I feel reading is the thing that has taken up my majority of the time. As a child it was course books and some little story books, now its novels and COurse books, of course.

TW K

Answer 6

Same here, I get really frustrated when I don't have a book, and even more frustrated when I go into a charity shop and see I've read them all,probably ones I have taken back! I'm even guilty of reading the odd mills and boon type book just for something to read. When I read something good from an author I'm like a stalker, scouring bookshops to find more, I'm currently 'stalking' Christopher Brookmyre,only one to go!!! (Attack of the unsinkable rubber duck)

Answer 7

well, I do prefer writing to reading. But I seldom have anything to write about, very un- inspired at the moment.
yahoo answers keeps me busy!
Reading, yes I like reading but specific topics and when I want.
However, strange as it sounds, I cannot go to the loo without a book or mag or something to read, even if it's the bible!
So when I say I'm going to the library, everyone groans because they know I won't be out for ages!

Answer 8

If I don't have a book to read, or something ,I will read tomato soup labels and the packaging on the rolls of toilet paper, so yes I'm sort of addicted to the written word. However, I won't ready trashy stuff, because I don't want trashy thoughts floating around in my mind. I still remember a few "dirty" books I read as a young teen (I found them at a house where I baby sat). That was a LONG time ago and those thoughts still surface once in a while - not my favorite memories! =(

Guess what there are many websites where you can download books and read them for free. If you are going to read compulsively, you need to "up" your direction and quality of literature. Garbage In, Garbage Out (GIGO)

I'll tell you a few links to the books, but first, lets talk about compulsion. Compulsion means not being free to NOT read. This is not good. You are aware of this already. You need to ask yourself some questions like, What am I scared to look at? What am I afraid of? Why am I afraid to be still? Is there some thing or someone who is a problem in my life? Am I avoiding......? Keep asking yourself questions until you see what is bothering you. Then seek information on how you can address your problem. Compulsion can turn a friend into an enemy.....You don't want to lose the joy of reading by letting it devolve into an addiction. (I speak from experience with addiction to medicine-sobriety is much more fun!) =)

Depending on the answers you give yourself you will need to take some actions for your own benefit. You don't give your age; if you are still living at your parents home, that may limit some of your choices.

I grew up in a pretty terrible home. Books were a form of salvation for me as a child. Unfortunately, when a person grows up, books can't be safely used as a refuge, you must deal with reality. When I was 18 I became suicidal from pain/depression. My real salvation was Jesus Christ. Someone told me about Him when I was so desperate. I met Him and He has been more to me than a whole library of books, even the New York City Library which is amazingly huge! If you've never read the Bible, I'd recommend you get a modern english version and read the book of John in the New Testament. It will introduce you to Jesus. I've never regretted knowing Jesus/being a Christian for one minute of my life since I met Him.

I could write so much more about Jesus, He is my hero. He's everything to me, but this answer is already pretty long. Books are wonderful, but they have limits as to what they can do for you. I just know that your question reveals you are at a stage of life where you need answers, not just entertainment. Don't settle for "trashy" you deserve so much more than that!!! Keep asking questions and look for answers, you will find them. By the way, prayer is just talkiing to God like He is in the room with you. If you ask God to reveal Himself to you, He will communicate with you. Do you have anyone older than yourself that you can talk to about important stuff? Having a friend/mentor can be very meaningful - I know we "bookworms" can be loners sometimes. Anyway, I wish you the best, lots of books, lots of answers and some friends to help you balance out your life

Here are a few of the websites I promised. After you look at these, ask a question in the books section about free book downloads and you will get about 12 more sites, Happy Reading: gutenberg.org(20,000 books available - wheee!), truly free.org, readbooksonline.net, fictionpress.com

All the Best to You, Miss Jac!!!

Answer 9

OMG Yeah, I cant pass a bookshop, charity shop etc without going in and see if theres anything worth reading, I cant go to sleep without reading for at least 30 minutes and quite frequently I find my self picking up a book instead of doing housework. At one point my husband actually banned me from buying anymore books, as we are now bursting at the seams with books in the spare room!!!!

Answer 10

Me too. I have to have the next book ready and waiting whilst i finish the last few pages of the one i'm reading..

One afternoon many years ago when i was a surf-widow it was too cold to lie on the beach so i sat in the car and read the car's read manual from cover to cover, as there was nothing else to read.

An addict, for sure.