I just wanted to know if anyone else was as sensitive to the stuff they read as I am. I don't think I could read a book about anxiety because I am afraid that I would just get new ideas from what I read about how to make myself anxious.

One example that I have most recently and unfortunately come across is a fiction book that gave me panic while reading. The Vampire Lestat Near the beginning of the book and while Lestat is still human, a young adult not much older than myself, he begins to fear "death." Anne Rice goes into such depths to describe his fear and feelings that I was trembling with him.

Has anyone read this book or had this happen while reading a book?

Oddly enough, I am still trying to pick up the darn thing because I'm halfway through reading it, but I think I'll have to give it up as a lost cause.

The Vampire Lestat! The book that produces anxiety! --It's almost laughable.

Hi Lena,
I know what you mean. I used to love crime stories, especially British thrillers like Ruth Rendell, Deborah Crombie, Elizabeth George (oh, I think she´s American)....

However, I can´t read them anymore because they are mainly about psycho killers, written from their point of view. That makes it interesting, but also it scares me since I have this disorder. Why? Beause they describe normal scenes turning into horror, or the horror waiting behind the fence of a nice little village, you know (can´t explain it better because English isn´t my native language).

Of course those things exist, but in comparison to 6 billions of poeple on this planet, there are only very few who are really doing those terrible things.
When my panic disorder started, I used to fear the danger outside, especially beause my daughter was little and I was afraid that she could be killed, raped, kidnapped or misused or whatever.
Thats´why I also stopped watching crime series on TV, they scare me to death. Before I got this disorder, I loved that, X-files and stuff.
Meanwhile the things that scare me have changed, I fear what´s going on in myself, which has to do with changes and circumstances in my life: single Mum of a teenager, I´m the only person responsable for her; I have a hard time in my job, my coworker rejects me and I´m constantly afraid of making mistakes and being critizised.
These things keep me anxious and tense. So I´d rather read trashy love stories or family novels, but they just bore me to death (because I KNWO that they are fiction, life isn´t like that!)
So what do I read? The bible and specialized books about anxiety and psychological subjects...which makes me cirlce around my problems even more.

Okay, my advice, read books that are encouraging, whatever it may be in your case, about roses and gardening...or animals...

I have this too. I also loved the crime shows, unsolved mysteries, x-files, etc. but now I can't watch them. Same with some dramas. It has to be lighthearted, uplifting, make me feel good. I used to read the newspaper all the time, but not anymore. I just get the headlines and general gist of the story and move on. I know these scarey/bad things exist in the world and ignoring them isn't the answer, but I'm not going to read a complete novel about it and dwell. I used to try and almost force myself to do it, but then I realized, isn't this book reading/tv watching supposed to be enjoyable? So now I also read a lot of non fiction dealing with my interests, the bible and inspirational/go for it stuff.

I feel the same way..about some fiction and about some books on anxiety. Some authors go into such depth about the way it feels when you're having an attack that I feel one coming on!

Yes! I bought the book "Deadly Emotions" when I first started the program thinking it would help. HA! I got half way throught and I was MORE anxious about feeling and being anxious!

Oh my gosh, I can't go near Anne Rice books. Negativity in its' purest form.
I love many different types of literature, but some books get sent back after a few pages. Not worth the anxiety.

Not a bad thing to abandon a book halfway through-sometimes it's just a matter of intelligence and self compassion. Like this time.
Hugs.

Hi all,


Rule of thumb for me is (NO fiction),read some years ago and it just adds to the mystery of your problems.These fiction writers have no consideration for their readers.They sell books and a reason to be out of reality.

I happen to love documentaries on disasters, but of late that of the Universe. I'm not scared of the countless way that our existence could be annihilated but the fact of how tiny and insignificant it is. I also love books written by or in similar fashion to that of H.P. Lovecraft who has grasped this concept and proposed that there are BIENGS that exist at this cosmic level. Beings soo advance that they are beyond human comprehension.

You know what book made me nervous? Night,by Elie Wiesel.It's important to learn about the Holocaust,I know,but maybe at a time when you're not so...on edge.Oh,and I didn't read it because Oprah told me to...

Hey Lena,
When I was 17 I read a book by Clive Barker. I can't even remember the name of the book but there was this character whose skin was rotting off of him, he had maggots crawling through his skin,etc. Well that was the last book I ever read from that genre and it was fiction!
I try to stay away from certain films and books. It's no big deal I just know what's good for me.

Anne Rice actually had a life and death experience a few years ago, and really changed her tone, although I haven't read her new stuff. She admitted that she got into writing about vampires because she was distraught over her daughter's death, and was finding a way to keep her alive by writing about immortal beings. She lost her faith, and now she's regained it after she almost died. I think she's focusing on Angels now. I just thought that was interesting info. Anyway, we with anxiety can probably pick up on all that emotion she poured into her books.

I have a degree as a librarian, so I just want to say that I'm supportive of reading and books, non-fiction, fiction, etc. However, I don't understand why we feel we have to read things that bother us. Yes, books on anxiety are probably a must, but not ones that scare us. Lucinda mentions that in this program. If you don't like Anne Rice, and it's not serving as a means of escape and comfort, you don't have to read it. That's what's so great about reading. It gives you control. When we watch the news or movies, we are bombarded with images that we don't see coming, and it happens so fast. When we read, we get for shadowing, and we get to skim, etc. to know if it's really for us. We can just stop anytime we don't like it. There's another wonderful book that comforts you awaiting on the shelf.

As far as "Night" is concerned, I don't think you would be a compassionate person if you didn't react to it, and of course have uncomfortable emotions. Books about the holocaust, etc. are written to tell people who don't understand the shocking truth, especially those in denial. It was hellish. All of us with anxiety are compassionate people, who don't need to be hit by a hammer to get that people suffer, etc. We tend to care too much, and not vice versa.

I feel like I'm coming across preachy or something. I'm just tired, and I don't think I've said anything everyone else hasn't already said. So, no you're not alone by any means.

Take Care,
luvpiggy

I did not start fearing death after reading a book - it started about three or four days after my father died 13 years ago when I was 24 years old. It scares me really bad - it still happens now. But you have intrigued me about this book - I would like to know how it scares someone else, even if fictional.

I dont like "real" stories. What I mean is, books based on true happenings such as slavery, the holocaust, or horrible circumstances or acts being committed in other countries, because there's nothing I can do about it, and it only makes you angry and feel like crap.

Although I am guilty of it, I've never understood why we watch movies or read books about these things. After all, we're supposed to be filling our heads with positive things, not negative things, and rehatching old, negative events only makes us feel bad. We all know what happened, we don't need to keep reliving them.

luvpiggy, I loved your comment and it made me feel in peace again, I was getting a little bit anxious just by reading about all these books. I think your are totally right. I am glad that the writter Anne Rice has peace now and that she is writing about Angels. I don't think I ever read a book from her, but I'm just happy that she found peace. But, anyway I loved all your e-mail it has been really comforting. And Lena thank you for this topic it has been really helpful and educating, I thought I was the only one that had those feelings when reading certain books, or watch certain TV shows. Thankfuly after I started the program a month ago I stop watching the news by a 90% and still doing my best to avoid watching them, and I started to increase reading books that lift my spirit.

I have the same problem, especially books about anxiety. And I just started going to a therapist who explains anxiety in such detail that I feel so much worse after seeing him. I'm going to stop.

After seeing this therapist, it is hard for me to relax to the relaxation CD.

I am so frustrtated.

Any book recommendations that lift the spirit?

Amber