Type of bind: Paperback
Label: William Morrow
Manufacturer: William Morrow
Printing Date: February 01, 2008
Publishing house: William Morrow
Sale Popularity Level: 470174
Studio: William Morrow
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers -
Ms. Cheney does a masterful job with describing the internal life of a severe manic-depressive. She gives insight into many aspects of this disorder including learning to hide it, the constant adjustment of medications, the enjoyment of being hypo-manic, and the "shameful" secrets that accumulate from manic episodes.
Ms. Cheney was a high profile entertainment lawyer who hid her disease for a number of years. She gradually spiraled down into non-employment, hospitalizations, and suicide attempts. Ms. Cheney makes the point that medications are the primary solution to this medically-based disorder and that her current one has saved her life. It's a good read and provides an "up close and personal view" of Ms. Cheney's life with bipolar disorder.
Rated by buyers -
In my psychology degree, we were also taught about the anti-psychiatry movement. The DSM-IV categorises people, but there are real lives behind the labels. Being bipolar, or manic-depressive does not have to end your life. This book is evidence of that. It catalogues moments in Terri's life where she experiences mania and depression, and how she sees life. Some parts make you jealous of her brilliant brain, confident sexuality and flashes of wit and sparkle. Mere mortals with no spark of mania cannot compete. Then we see her strapped to a table, going through ECT, raped and trying suicide and realise how desperate life must have been for her at those times.
If you want to understand how "mental illness" affects people, then read this book. It is powerful and will make you think about your life, as well as how it must be for Terri. Kay Redfield Jameson's books are also important in this area. Both portray how suicide is a reality for people suffering bipolar disorder. So Terri Cheney is to be congratulated on how she has managed her life, and how she now defends the rights of those in a similar position.
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