“What is society but an individual?"
―
┄
Thirteen million Americans struggle with Social Anxiety Disorder
(SAD). I am one of those who fight day-to-day to stay afloat in an overwhelming social world. Like any other mental illness, this disorder affects each of us in
different ways with different levels of tolerance. There is, however, one thing I
believe we all have in common: we don’t want to feel alone in the struggle!
Books have been a constant in my life and they provide an
escape from the real world if only for a couple hours a day. There are times
when I feel like I’m the only one in the world struggling with this disorder. Thankfully
there are books! Now, I know that some of us have come across many self-help
books which are great! But sometimes I want to read about people who like
me are hyper-aware of their surroundings and though there are millions of us with
SAD, I find it comforting to read about fictional characters that are just like
me. These five books have given me
comfort, hope and the courage I need to accept myself as I am. Keep in mind
that these books don’t necessarily contain characters with Social Anxiety but rather
have difficulties socializing for different reasons.
┄
1. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
This one is one of the best books I've read so far this year. It pretty much has it all: romance, humor, family drama, and some very steamy scenes.
Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases--a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.
It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice--with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan--from foreplay to more-than-missionary position
It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice--with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan--from foreplay to more-than-missionary position
Perhaps my love for books made me biased but this book is one great read. It will break your heart and make you smile all at the same time.
Loveday Cardew prefers books to people. If you look closely, you might glimpse the first lines of the novels she loves most tattooed on her skin. But there are things she'll never show you.
Fifteen years ago Loveday lost all she knew and loved in one unspeakable night. Now, she finds refuge in the unique little York bookshop where she works.
Everything is about to change for Loveday. Someone knows about her past. Someone is trying to send her a message. And she can't hide any longer.
Fifteen years ago Loveday lost all she knew and loved in one unspeakable night. Now, she finds refuge in the unique little York bookshop where she works.
Everything is about to change for Loveday. Someone knows about her past. Someone is trying to send her a message. And she can't hide any longer.
3. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
This book will leave you with a great feeling inside. You will see Eleanor transform right before your eyes.
Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy.
But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.
But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.
4. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
One of the things I liked about this one is the support system surrounding Audrey. I'm a firm believer that surrounding yourself with people who understand and support you is essential in the daily struggle. It's also a great example of the importance of taking your time when healing.
Audrey can't leave the house. she can't even take off her dark glasses inside the house.
Then her brother's friend Linus stumbles into her life. With his friendly, orange-slice smile and his funny notes, he starts to entice Audrey out again - well, Starbucks is a start. And with Linus at her side, Audrey feels like she can do the things she'd thought were too scary. Suddenly, finding her way back to the real world seems achievable.
Then her brother's friend Linus stumbles into her life. With his friendly, orange-slice smile and his funny notes, he starts to entice Audrey out again - well, Starbucks is a start. And with Linus at her side, Audrey feels like she can do the things she'd thought were too scary. Suddenly, finding her way back to the real world seems achievable.
5. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
As you know I love books and I also love writing and getting lost in a different world is okay!
Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan... But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
┄
It's always good to know and understand that we are not alone in our struggle. We don't need to be afraid of change and growth. Everything will turn out okay if you just give yourself a chance. Most important: be kind to yourself.
For information about Social Anxiety Disorder please visit the National Institute of Mental Health
For information about Social Anxiety Disorder please visit the National Institute of Mental Health
No comments:
Post a Comment