I’m Addicted to Self-Help Books

“How much help do you really need?” rang in my ears as I paused the Youtube video I was watching. 

I can’t remember the exact Youtuber I was watching, but when they asked that question in the context of self-help literature, it threw me for a loop. 

I suddenly realized my obsession with self-help books for the first time. 

There’s no secret that I am a book lover. I started avidly reading when I was in the fourth grade and ever since then, I never left the house without something to read. 

The first “self-help” book I read was during my freshman year of highschool titled “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” by Sean Covey. It was the first time I had a manual that held the secrets to achieving whatever dream life I had on my vision board at the time. 

I learned about setting effective routines, how to boost my productivity and how to ultimately take control of my life. After reading it, I felt empowered to say the least, and it was then that I made it my duty to get my hands on every self-help book that piqued my interest. 

Out of the 20-something books I read in a year, the majority of them are categorized as self-help and are geared toward “fixing” something in your life.  

Overtime, the books started to all sound the same; it was the same advice but reworded. 

I’m always open to taking in new advice when it comes to evolving as a person, but at what point do I let go of my dependence on finding the next “fix”? 

My problem when it comes to my addiction with self-help material is the feeling I get when I’m consuming it. I’m addicted to the false feeling of productivity. Self-help material gives me a sort of dopamine hit that quickly fades once I realize I didn’t really learn anything new.  

I’m slowly transitioning back to fiction books that bring me joy alongside exploring biographies/autobiographies. 

This isn’t to say I’m completely divorcing any and every self-help book, i’m just limiting which ones I bring into my space while being more selective with the authors I read. 

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