Sometimes I just need a distraction...

[Martha]

Hey group,

I've created this folder as a place where we can talk about things that don't relate to mental health for a couple of reasons:

1. There's more to all of us than the crap that goes on in our heads

2. I don't know if it's just me, but sometimes I want to have some time where I'm not thinking about my illness. Thinking about it 24/7 never helped anyone - I know often we might not get that choice, but I'm always grateful for a breather.

It might seem a bit counter-intuitive as this is a place specifically for mental health, but that's another reason why it's so important. I've had so many occasions where I've worried that me having fun and having a "normal" chat with a friend might give them the wrong idea that I'm fine or recovered, when actually I might just be having a good day or a good moment. I find it such a relief to have the same kind of chat with someone who also has a mental health condition - we can talk about the same things, but I don't have to worry that they're getting the wrong idea about where I am in my recovery.

I hope that makes sense!

That in mind, the fundamental rule of this folder is no mental health chat please! Feel free to post anything mental-health related in any of the other folders, but I'd love to have this as a space where we can all get to know the rest of each other's lives.

If it's only me that feels that way, then that's completely fine, and this folder can become inactive, I won't be offended :)

[Marina]

That's a great idea!

So, let me start... What is everyone's favorite book? Of course we're talking here of non-mental health related books.

Mine is Auto-da-Fé by Elias Canetti. It's a difficult book, but I really love it. I also wrote my final paper for my Master on it.

[Martha]

Excellent topic to start with! That's cool, what is your Masters on? What makes the book difficult?

I always have trouble picking a favourite, but one I often come back to is The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I remember reading it and thinking it was an innovative concept but it still has a really believable, flawed love story. I haven't read it in a while actually, might have to open it up again!

[Marina]

Oh, Martha, I loved The Time Traveler's Wife! I don't usually like love stories, but this one had a particular twist to it that I really enjoyed.

My Masters is on Foreign Languages and Literatures, specifically German Literature. The book is difficult because it revolves around so many different characters and its main character is a very bizarre one: a sinologist who is very peculiar and hard to sympathize with, because he's so mean and self-centered. It wasn't a difficult read for me, but other people tell me it was very hard for them and I actually can see why...