Rewrite the brain
Like the author below, thirty some odd years ago, I suffered what psychology used to refer to as a nervous breakdown—now called a psychotic break. My poor brain simply was totally overloaded from dozens of overlapping stressors and went haywire. It took months to heal into functionality and in the longer term, I’m so much better for having had it. One of the most effective therapies I employed was bibliotherapy. I read and read and read and wrote and wrote and wrote growing my way into a happier, more stable and useful persona. PS I too loved the Raj Quartet…—MR
Reading books is not just a pleasure: it helps our minds to heal
by Peter Leyland, Psyche newletter, May 1, 2025
A few years ago, I had a breakdown from what would now be termed ‘burnout’. It was probably related to the early death of my father after a long-term illness when I was 12, and from which I had escaped into stories and poetry. As I lay in bed convalescing, I turned to books again, reading through the whole of the Raj Quartet (1966-75) by Paul Scott. His richly layered plot and superbly drawn characters in an Indian setting undoubtedly helped me to recover.
