People often confuse reading with escape.
But escape feels frantic. Rest feels grounded. And when I read now, it’s not about disappearing — it’s about settling. My thoughts slow. My breathing evens out. The noise fades without me forcing it.
That’s not avoidance.
That’s regulation.
Healing has taught me that rest doesn’t need to be earned. It doesn’t need to be productive. It simply needs to be allowed. And books have become one of the safest places for me to practice that.
Sometimes the healthiest thing I can do
is close the world for a chapter or two.
Reading Trauma Mama: Velvet & Taboo 