Absolutely it affects my reading! When purely depressed, my brain is almost asleep/dead. When anxious, my mind is racing and I totally can't concentrate on anything beyond the anxious thinking. When beyond mildly hypomanic, or full manic or mixed, my thoughts are racing, I'm distractable, my thoughts jump from one thing or another, I can't sit still to read, and I'm using either out of the house on a pleasure seeking mission, or if in the house, I am working on projects like mad or dancing, singing, talking to myself or others, etc. If mixed, I may also be in a state of psychological agony. I can't read under any of those conditions. If I am "sort of" reading while hypomanic or manic, I'm usually skimming briskly or flipping pages (book or web pages) with info flying around my mind like a hurricane.


I am able to remember what I read, read longest, and even want to read best when stable or at the most mildly hypomanic. When mildly depressed, I may be able to read, it's not ideal. I tend to read more online when slightly depressed or hypomanic. It's likely related to desiring social interactions and/or support.


Thanks for the thought-provoking question! I'd be curious to read how others are affected.