Reading in Times of Distress

When I first started writing this article, my mind was on the election and my fears for the future. Now, our reality has become steeped in even more tragedy that has left many in our community reeling. Amidst everything, I found myself turning to books — and the escapism they provide — to cope with the unrelenting sense of uncertainty and heaviness around me. 

In moments like these, it can be difficult, dealing with a flood of emotions or maybe even more so to feel them slip away behind walls. There are many coping mechanisms out there, but, in my opinion, none come close to the power that escapism through reading can offer. Reading goes beyond distraction, it offers a liminal space to indirectly connect with feelings and to discover pieces of yourself.

CHOUNG | Cluttered Collections 

I have often used my articles as another coping mechanism because I wanted someone out there to resonate with my feelings and to help me be heard on my struggles. In hindsight, I realized that I never really allowed myself to settle into college. It may sound obvious and strange but I never realized the importance of giving yourself grace and time to settle in. 

SEX ON THURSDAY | Recently Rejected and Unable to Cope

For too long, I’ve thought of men as robots who gravitate to a massive butt or perfectly-adjusted boobs. It baffled me that I looked my best, put on the charm and still got left high and dry. Surely, in the half-hour (!) that we spoke prior to the inevitable rejection, a hair must’ve fallen out of place, or I said something incredibly unattractive. That night, after shedding a few crocodile tears, I began to think about everything that isn’t perfect about me.

So much flooded my mind. Maybe I was too forward, I thought. Maybe I should’ve acted less interested, I wondered.