Since about 3 months ago reading has been impossible for me. I used to be a literature fanatic. I can physically read the words but mentally I’m just not putting them into sentences that make sense. The silver lining is that I can still write well.
My doctors are hoping that this improves with medication as I am still early in my diagnosis and treatment but I have yet to see a significant return of my reading skills. Does this ever get better? I feel pretty hopeless.
I think it will improve for you because you have the skills. Something like “muscle memory.” Do you take meds now?
I find it easier to watch podcasts, TED talks, and YouTube channels.
I was an avid reader growing up. When I got diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 19 I pretty much stopped reading. The only positive thing when it comes to reading is that when I went to college over the years I could read textbooks and all required reading just fine. But I don’t read for fun anymore. I accepted it a long time ago. Incidentally, I was also able to read AA’s basic text “The Big Book” just fine and the same with CA and NA’s basic texts and all the literature. I still read large articles online and keep up with the news. But reading for fun is out.
I hope someone else can give you good news about being able to read again. By the way, my wring skills have diminished since I graduated college two years ago but before that I was told by many people I was a good writer and did quite well in English 2B.
I found out that I can learn a lot from TED talks and YouTube too.
@Catman Thank you and yes I’m on meds. Hopefully I can train myself to read better starting from audio content.
@77nick77 Thank you, this is exactly how it is for me. I can pull it together long enough to read short snippets but I don’t know if I’ll ever find it pleasurable again.
I can’t really read anymore either, it’s a common thing. But I will say, quote books are a really great way to keep reading. Can pick them up and put them down at any point and not really lose your place, and read a few lines at a time if your mentally fatigued.
I tried and tried to read books…now I just surrendered to listening to audio books…I find I can listen to a chapter a day. you might try that. spotify has thousands of audio books on the premium accounts… (12 dollars a month).
I was so profoundly ignorant when I was first diagnosed. I didn’t read as a child and failed out of school. I had a monumental struggle with reading. I started with Ray Bradbury. I searched for easy authors and found several over the years. I don’t know how much I get pleasure out of reading but I can do it pretty well. I read a lot of magazines these days. I believe you can read but I wish that I had spent my effort and time playing guitar or drawing. I do those things now.
My therapist during COVID lockdown was impressed with my ability to be alone and stay busy. I told him that it took three decades to be able to do it.
I also write. Nothing special, just day to day accounts in snail mail letters.
Good luck
Yes I got my mojo back but not entirely. I’ve been into movies and cartoons these past few years. Occasionally I come across a book I enjoy, but most books I put down after only a couple dozen pages. While waiting for your reading skill to return, you might want to try audio books.
I couldn’t read from 13 years old to 23. Then my sister bought me The Book by Alan watts. It was hard to read. But I stuck with it. Now I’m
Taking a holistic approach to my mental health as well as meds and stuff. I finished a 300
Page book yesterday and I’ll finish a 350 page book today or tomorrow. Yes I read multiple
Books at a time. I’m not the fastest reader but I do my best. Reading is my passion. And I had a ten year period where I finished two books total . Which was the story’s of wilt chamberlains 100 point game and Allen Iversons life story. Not very academic.
Now I mostly read spiritual as well as academic books 
and I joined a non fiction book club.
I have trouble reading. I used to read for pleasure all the time but now i just can’t concentrate well enough and i struggle to finish short stories. I think I’ll try the audio book route.
This is what I did.
I used to read for fun. Now I can’t read books, as they are just walls of texts to me now.
Audio books are a great work around.
You’ll never get back your old reading ability. But you will have some kind of reading ability. I’m not sure how to describe it - but i read in chunks and in those chunks I then envision what it means rather than remember the direct meaning; like i say, it’s hard to describe but I do A LOT of reading due to my degree
Same here, but a childhood problem: Reading requires mental effort (ADD?).
But, schizoaffective made my ability to process what I read even worse than what it was before. I guess I can only read books in short bursts, and if they are really interesting/vital to work. Otherwise, I avoid them. It does get better than what it sounds like being in the midst of an episode, though.
I never read much. I read information though. I started reading history recently. I think you can relearn how to read with comprehension. It will take time. And hey we have lots of time 
Mine got significantly better compared to when I first started receiving treatment. Meds can play a big role as well(different experience on different meds). I’d say give it time. There is a recovery process and things can change.
I had problems trying to get motivated to read and initiating it. I had problems with comprehension but I’ve probably read at least 100 books since I’ve been sick (2011). I’m not sure, my memory (long term) isn’t good anymore. Some meds are better than others.
I’ve read good books and shitty books. I felt like there was a block or a wall in my reading ability.
I think lithium might help, but haven’t tried it. I can’t read much either. But I know lithium helped with things like that a long time ago.
I read sometimes for my utility, about health. It’s part of my job. It feels good
I am unable to read too.
It sucks
I used to read all the time.
Now even a short article on a magazine is too much for me… I can’t focus and pay attention and understand what I am reading.
It’s been like this for 17 years 
I have no patience to write either, and my handwriting is very sloppy and messy and ugly. It used to be very beautiful and easy to read.
I think I only read 100 WPM now after I got schizophrenia. I’m a slow reader. I don’t know how fast I was before schizophrenia. Maybe 200 WPM or something, which is the average.