Bookaholic Anonymous

Assalamualaikum wbt and hye....



Is there any Bookaholic Anonymous support group out there? I need to refer a patient for help somewhere. Here is her condensed history...

[WARNING: This history may not be reliable as patient is currently in active stage of her problem.]

Presenting Complaint & History:
Miss S, a 23+ year old, (cute) Malay female medical student, admitted herself voluntarily for interview with a chronic history of "excessive need to shop for books".

• Impulsive book buying since 5 years ago when she started getting pocket money from JPA. Started off buying bimonthly comic, graphic novels, novels, some self help and last year ventured to limited edition fan books / hardcover / first edition books (not hardbacks which cost less).
• One severe episode of shopping spree involving going to multiple charity shops and buying at least 30 books in a week.
• Even go to bookstores in foreign countries eg: Germany. And actually bought a german book.
  
• Cannot walk in front of bookstores without feeling compelled to go in.
  
• Once go in must walk trough all isles, check all bestseller and promotional books, buy at least one book or at least read through one whole book. If not done anxiety symptoms will emerge. Seeing new books from favorite authors will aggravate the symptoms.
  
• (Primacy of Books) If given RM 30, will actually ask for another RM 5 coz novels usually cost around RM35. Rather buy books than shop for dresses/shoes/makeups.
  
• Feels that the thought of buying book is so strong it takes a lot to resist it. However, it is ego-syntonic as buying books actually make her feel very happy, looking forward to reading it and not guilty. Do not feel annoyed when confronted about habit.
• Have bookstore club card so she can get discounts...
• Club card has increased the frequency of buying books.
• Feeling depressed when cannot go to Bookfairs...
  
• Preoccupied in thought of making money so can buy more books.
• Go to bookstores to "cool heads / calm nerves". Buying books give more potent effect. Writing her name in the book give intense satisfaction. Finishing a book induce cravings for more.
• Will try to read even in difficult light conditions eg: using handphone lights.
• Read the first thing in the morning for as eye-opener. Using every single free time to read.
• Reduce sensitivity to surroundings when reading. May forget to take meals. Can sit in one place for a long time and maintain reading posture. Residual neck pain after finish reading.
  
• Withdrawal symptoms: No symptoms because never ever tried to cut down the "consumptions".
• Intoxication: Dreams about book content, searching for fan-arts in deviantart, drawing fan-art, google author and new books.
  
• Functional impairment: Financial difficulty (however no problem with Ah Long), relationship problems (read books when she can talk to family and friends.), compromising college performance (urge to read even in exam week resulting in mediocre results).
• Loss of sleeping time at night as cannot sleep unless getting over a cliffhanger. Daytime somnolence and loss of energy the following day.
  
• Impaired judgement: Difficulty choosing between reading novels and lecture notes / textbooks.
• Insight: Fair. Know have problem but don't know what to do with it.
• Have bookstores related fantasies. eg: Wishing someone in the family to marry a bookstore owner. Bookstores sleepovers.
  

This is one sick patient....

Management: Trial of psychological treatments before biological regime. CBT, psychoeducation, addiction caunselling... Socially, Bookaholic Anonymous.

Patient's opinion, "I don't want any of that... can you just give me "Financial Support" (under social management...)??? And for group therapy, I want to join Book clubs...."

END of interview as patient becoming uncooperative and agitated as she feel the urge to read her new Neil Gaiman book.