Reading My Way Around the World: How Audiobooks Became My Escape
ME stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. It wasn’t an illness I knew anything about until I was diagnosed with it following a viral infection nearly 10 years ago. The symptoms can be wide ranging, debilitating, and can affect multiple systems in the body, including the nervous and immune system.
Like many illnesses, it has a spectrum of severity. Milder forms of ME may allow people to work reduced hours, go on short walks or socialise - albeit with regular rest breaks. Whilst severe forms of the illness can leave sufferers bedbound for years at a time, unable to sit up, look out of the window, feed or wash themselves.
ME meant I became predominantly housebound, and I had to spend much of each day lying down with my eyes closed. I was desperate to find an activity I could manage with my limited energy. This was when I came across Listening Books. I had always enjoyed reading but in recent years had become too unwell to read physical books. After becoming a member I downloaded the app, plugged in my headphones and chose my first audiobook.
"Very quickly audiobooks became a big part of my life. I would set myself reading challenges to feel like I was experiencing the ‘outside’ world even though I hardly left the house"
One year I tried to listen to a book each month set in India; the next year I chose the Caribbean. I enjoyed the escapism nature books brought as I had always loved being outside and each year, I looked forward to following the Women’s Prize for Fiction. If I could be immersed in a good story, then the isolation of the illness would become slightly easier to cope with.
Not everyone with ME or other energy limiting illnesses is able to listen to audiobooks. For some, their neurological symptoms are too severe to cope with any noise and for others the ‘brain fog’ means following along with a story is impossible. However, for those of us who are able to listen to audiobooks, having access to a charity such as Listening Books makes a big difference to our lives.
For more information about ME Awareness Week visit the ME Association or Action for ME.
Listening Books is a UK audiobook charity. We provide an online library catering for anyone who struggles to read, print or hold books. If you or someone you know struggles to read due to an illness or disability and you’d like to find out more about becoming a member of Listening Books, head over to our what we do page, email info@listening-books.org.uk, or call us on 020 7407 9417.
Written by Rebecca and edited by Nicola.
