by Terri Cheney
Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness, by Pete Earley
Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder, by Julie A. Fast and John D. Preston
The Bipolar Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know, by David J. Miklowitz, Ph.D.
The Bipolar Child: The Definitive and Reassuring Guide to Childhood’s Most Misunderstood Disorder (3d ed.), by Demitri Papolos, M.D., and Janice Papolos
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy, by David D. Burns, M.D.
I also recommend two insightful documentaries by director Lisa Klein: Of Two Minds, an intimate, sometimes painful, sometimes painfully funny look at bipolar disorder and all those affected by it; and The S Word, an exploration of suicide—that most taboo of subjects—through the eyes of people who have been there and are now committed to preventing others from getting to that edge. For information and access, go to https://madpixfilms.com/.
An essay I wrote for the New York Times, about bipolar dating and the importance of having the support of loved ones, was adapted for the first season of the highly successful TV series Modern Love. Episode 3, called “Take Me As I Am, Whoever I Am,” stars Oscar-winning actress Anne Hathaway as me(!). The series streams on Amazon Prime Video.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I DEDICATED THIS BOOK TO Nancy Bacal, my writing teacher, and Dr. Geoffry White, my therapist, because I can hardly remember a time when they weren’t on my side, pushing me to go deeper, inspiring me with their wisdom and strength. I gave them many reasons to give up on me, but no one could ask for braver or more persistent champions. My heartfelt thanks also go out to the following:
—To my agent Will Lippincott at Aevitas Creative Management, who has been a dear friend from the first hour I met him, and a true blessing ever since. Thank you for coming into my life;
—To my editor Renée Sedliar, who has shepherded this book with great compassion, humor, and vision. Thank you for seeing its potential and saying yes;
—To Dr. Harvey Sternbach, whose unrivaled expertise, patience, and generosity of heart have never failed me;
—To Karen Kendig Simon of Celebrity Mental Health Speakers, who has always shown such faith in me;
—To Cisca Schreefel, my production editor, and Martha Whitt, my copyeditor, who were so encouraging, warm, and capable while putting my manuscript into final form; and to the whole Hachette Go team, including Alison Dalafave, for making this book a reality;
—To the members, past and present, of Nancy Bacal’s inimitable Wednesday morning writing group, especially Marilyn Levine, Kim Kowsky, Ann Bailey, Carla Weber, Lisa Klein, Arnold Pomerantz, Beacon Miodovsky, Kiki Christensen, alums Maureen Miller, James Fearnley, Soo-Hyun Chung, Nina Asher, and in memoriam, Paul Mantee. What would I do and who would I be without my family?
—To my beloved friends and supporters Robert Young, Juliet Green, John Whelpley, Elyn Saks, Suzy Davis Mantee, Dr. Joan Osder, Ebet Dudley, Terry Hoffmann, Lisa Mattice, Dawn Scherer, Dr. Elizabeth Suti, Dr. Rita Resnick, Francesca McCaffery, Francesca Kimpton, Garett Carlson, and Lori Depp;
—To Le Pain Quotidien in Beverly Hills, for all the table space they let go to waste while I was writing;
—To Anne Hathaway, Dan Jones, and John Carney for bringing my “Modern Love” essay to glorious, if heartbreaking, life;
—To John Trevor Wolff, for a lifetime of knowing who I really am even when I’m not quite sure myself, and for holding that knowledge in trust for me;
—To all my readers who’ve written to tell me their own stories, give me feedback, encourage me, and let me know I’m not alone. You have no idea how much you’ve helped, and how much I value your input;
And
—To my father, who never leaves me.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ONCE A SUCCESSFUL ENTERTAINMENT LITIGATOR representing celebrities and major motion picture studios, Terri Cheney escaped the practice of law to do what she has always wanted to do: write. She now devotes her advocacy skills to the cause of mental health and is on the boards of several national as well as international organizations. Her New York Times essay was the inspiration for Anne Hathaway’s portrayal of a bipolar character on the acclaimed Amazon TV series, Modern Love. Terri lives in Los Angeles, where, she says, a certain amount of eccentricity seems to be appreciated.
ALSO BY TERRI CHENEY:
Manic: A Memoir
The Dark Side of Innocence: Growing Up Bipolar
PRAISE FOR MODERN MADNESS:
“Terri Cheney paints a compelling picture of the mind of someone with mental illness, helping us to understand what it must feel like and causing us to sympathize with, not fear, those who suffer. Her book is a real stigma-buster—and a must-read.”
—Elyn Saks, author of New York Times bestseller The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness, 2009 MacArthur Genius recipient
“I’ve read dozens of books and articles while researching my documentary about bipolar disorder, Of Two Minds. Nothing illustrates the humanity of someone living with a mental illness like Terri’s stories—all told with warmth, humor, exquisite language, and unwavering honesty.”
—Lisa Klein, director, Of Two Minds and The S Word
PRAISE FOR MANIC:
“Cheney’s chilling account of her struggle with bipolar disorder brilliantly evokes the brutal nature of her disease. Manic… has heart and soul to spare.”
—People
“Cheney’s book is a gut-wrenching ride.”
—Los Angeles Times
“Superb… Cheney’s remarkable chronicle of her painful odyssey is as eloquent as it is brave. It is also profoundly necessary, both for her and for us.”
—Providence Journal
“[A] gritty, vibrant memoir brings this chaotic frenzy to life… through disaster and despair to end in hope.”
—Peter C. Whybrow, MD, author A Mood Apart
PRAISE FOR THE DARK SIDE OF INNOCENCE:
“As the father of an adult son with a severe mental illness, I found myself choking with emotion as I read Terri Cheney’s riveting and illuminating account of her childhood growing up with bipolar disorder. Cheney provides us with important insights from the eyes of the most innocent among us—our very own children.”
—Pete Earley, New York Times bestselling author of Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness
“Rewind the life of any adult with bipolar and you will find a childhood we would all desperately like to forget. Terri Cheney unflinchingly remembers… at long last, someone with the courage to break the silence.”
—John McManamy, author of Living Well with Depression and Bipolar Disorder