Over the past few days I tried to read Dostoevsky’s and also some regional author’s novels. I observed myself getting too absorbed in the characters and action, as if it were really my situations. Took it all too personally, I guess. It seemed too real, like my own life. My reading mushroomed into paranoid episodes that would last a few hours. It looks like I’ll have to avoid reading fiction, at least for now.
I hope I can still read poetry and essays OK.
Anybody else have a similar problem? I also have the same trouble watching movies. I just can’t.
I used to not be able to watch comedy shows without thinking they were referencing me in their humor. It was shocking how close they hit to the mark. I guess other people tend to see the same things all over the place though. So it’s easy to see something you can identify with and apply to yourself. In reality they would have no way of knowing about me or even caring enough to do a segment about me. It’s not the same as your situation, but similar, if a bit milder in scope.
I listen to audio books. Some i shouldn’t listen to so i mostly listen to quotes from different philosophers. I have a few with beautiful music in the background. Occasionally i feel a bit judged when i know i can’t live up to their standards. Mostly it’s okay. Better than listening to Stephen king
I used to have that trouble with pop and rock music and movies thinking that the lyrics and story lines were all about me. That’s one of the reasons I quit listening to music and quit watching movies.
I don’t read fiction at all, I’ve read a couple of fiction books my whole life. Seriously including school, had terrible grades. Don’t watch many movies because they upset me, I become the characters and not the hero types either. It’s weird. I feel very left out of society because there’s a whole bunch I can’t relate to. I love to read non-fiction and I like to watch educational shows so I can still enjoy it that way.