From Notes From a Typewriter: Bibliotherapy, i.e., the use of books in coping with emotional distress, can be a great source of comfort and support.
“Reading is a huge source of comfort, especially when I’m feeling down. I’ve read before about how therapists are recommending books to their patients, bibliotherapy. I’ve also read about how reading fiction increases empathy. It makes sense to me! Using your imagination to complete another person’s story, and following around the personal, even if fictional, experiences of a character, expands one’s view of life and the world, beyond just our own experiences. And that use of imagination not only allows us to connect more easily with others but also helps us know that we aren’t alone.”
