Bibliotherapy as a natural cure
A natural cure and a psychological treatment in all respects, a methodology used in various contexts and helping relationships, bibliotherapy has, over time, fascinated many people and, in some cases, helped to solve issues and knots of life otherwise difficult to face with bare hands .
From the ancient Greeks, to Freud, through the soldiers of the First World War who were prescribed books for treatment once at home, with a book in their hands is, in effect, decidedly more encouraging to go on, and, pathologies or traumas to aside, a book is always a good and trusted travel companion.
Above all, as we have already seen in the previous article "Bibliotherapy: reading to be happier", beyond therapies and disorders that a book can help to cure, there are cases, such as that of the writer Ceridwen Dovey, in which a text can also be stimulating from a spiritual point of view. When between the lines of The New Yorker.com tells us about his experience in bibliotherapy at the School of Life in London, and of his meeting with the "bibliotherapist", writer and painter Ella Berthoud, one can do nothing but take notes and ideas.
And precisely, start signing up, by Ella Berthoud and the writer Susan Elderkin "Taking care of the books. Literary remedies for every illness" (original title: The novel cure ") and for the new mothers but not only, also the text "Grow with books. Literary remedies to keep children healthy, wise and happy ".
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Books to try to cure the spirit naturally
In short, Ceridwen needed something that could become his personal port where he could drop anchor in times of need, he needed a book that could support him in moments of greater discouragement that brings life with him, such as separation or loss of someone. So then she advised her to read these texts, some of which were not even translated into Italian:
> "The Guide, " by RK Narayan;
> "The Gospel According to Jesus Christ, " translated into "The Gospel according to Jesus Christ" by José Saramago;
> "Henderson the Rain King, " translated into "Henderson the Rain King" by Saul Bellow;
> "Siddhartha, " by Hermann Hesse;
> "The Case for God, " by Karen Armstrong;
> "Sum, " by neuroscientist David Eagleman.
Satisfied, after two years and after reading the aforementioned books, here is the author herself who tells us positively and enthusiastically about her experience. Contina saying and that it has been shown that reading puts our brains in a pleasant state of trance, similar to meditation, and that it brings the same health benefits of deep relaxation and inner calm.
Regular readers sleep better, have lower stress levels, higher self-esteem and lower rates of depression than non-readers.
And, in conclusion, reports what the writer Jeanette Winterson said "Books of fantasy and poetry are true doses, medicines, what they heal is the rupture that reality causes to the imagination".
Ceridwen Dovey herself is the author of the story " Blood Kin " and the short story collection entitled "Only the Animals."
Brief history of bibliotherapy
Bibliotherapy was born in the United States around the 1930s thanks to the psychiatrist William Menninger and it is a sweet cure for the spirit and the mind that foresees the prescription of books as "homework" to read, with the aim of helping the person on his personal therapeutic journey.
In the USA it is still a very widespread technique, but also in Ighilterrra and in Europe in general, still little prescribed in Italy, supported by several studies, many of which are still ongoing.
