Manic

A Memoir

By: Terri Cheney

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo

Length: 6 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

On the outside, Terri Cheney was a highly successful, attractive Beverly Hills entertainment lawyer. But behind her seemingly flawless facade lay a dangerous secret - for the better part of her life, Cheney had been battling debilitating bipolar disorder and concealing a pharmacy's worth of prescriptions meant to stabilize her moods and make her "normal".

In bursts of prose that mirror the devastating highs and extreme lows of her illness, Cheney describes her roller-coaster life with shocking honesty - from glamorous parties to a night in jail; from flying 14 kites off the edge of a cliff in a thunderstorm to crying beneath her office desk; from electroshock therapy to a suicide attempt fueled by tequila and prescription painkillers. With Manic, Cheney gives voice to the unarticulated madness she endured.

The clinical terms used to describe her illness were so inadequate that she chose to focus instead on her own experience, in her words, "on what bipolar disorder felt like inside my own body." Here, the events unfold episodically, from mood to mood, the way she lived and remembers life. In this way, the listener is able to viscerally experience the incredible speeding highs of mania and the crushing blows of depression, just as Cheney did.

©2009 Terri Cheney (P)2018 Tantor

grateful

I have struggled with manic depressive disorder for my whole life. I appreciate the authors honesty and humility. It makes me feel more understood and accepting of myself.

Amazing Writer

I’m bipolar and I approve this book!

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mind reader

Thank you! I share/shared soo many same of the same feelings. You have great way of phrasing things and great insight.

Explains bipolar perfectly

I’ve been bipolar for many years. Im amazed at how perfectly this describes how it feels. It would be a great resource to give loved ones a peek into how you sometimes feel, but aren’t able to put into words. Thank you!

Vivid insight into manic depression

Very vivid insight into manic deepression. A bit difficult to follow but seems to be the author's goal. I love the reader's changes in voices and enthusiasm to really bring the story to life. The overall story reflects the reality of a few friends with such a condition.

Astonished at her visit to the doctor for over eating. Is that even legal?

I was looking for a bit more of a clinical medical answer but perhaps there isn't one?

Insightful

This memoir offers an honest look at life with bi-polar disorder and its far-reaching effects.

Compelling Narrative

Informative and poignant. Insightful and heartbreaking in its honesty. Highly recommend. Worth the time.

Intriguing

I loved the honesty and the ability to see the reality of the disease.

It's so honest

This is exactly how it is. It took a lot of courage for her to write this. I know people who go through this and it makes them seem more normal than abnormal once you hear this woman's story.

Best memoir for bipolar awareness I've read yet!

It's like Terri Cheney and I have shared so many of the same experiences. Excellent! Thank you for telling your story! It helped me better see I am not alone.