---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Stuart must have sensed my despair from…"
description: "\"Stuart must have sensed my despair from the way I began lightly banging my forehead on the table.\" — Maureen Johnson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/maureen-johnson-1282_banging_stuart-must-have-sensed-my-despair-from_1884053.png"
---

#  Stuart must have sensed my despair from the way I began…

![“Stuart must have sensed my despair from the way I began lightly banging my forehead on the table.” quote by Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/maureen-johnson-1282_banging_stuart-must-have-sensed-my-despair-from_1884053.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/maureen-johnson-1282_banging_stuart-must-have-sensed-my-despair-from_1884053.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/maureen-johnson-1282_banging_stuart-must-have-sensed-my-despair-from_1884053.png)

> “Stuart must have sensed my despair from the way I began lightly banging my forehead on the table.”

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The narrator senses deep despair, expressed through self‑harmful behavior.

**In simple terms:** Despair shown by banging forehead.

Key Takeaway

Seek healthier coping mechanisms.

Themes

mental health despair self‑harm expression

Mood

empathetic concerned

Type

therapeutic supportive

When to use this quote

- therapy
- support groups
- creative writing
- mindfulness exercises

Key Concepts

psychological coping emotional expression

Questions to Reflect On

- What alternatives help manage despair?
- How can we support those showing self‑harm?

A Different Perspective

The description may romanticize self‑harm.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/)

## Related quotes

> [“For his part he sensed with despair that he wouldn’t come, no matter how long they kept at it. But this activity made him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-johnson/for-his-part-he-sensed-with-despair-that-he-wouldn-t-come-no-matter/)

[Denis Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-johnson/)

> [“My brother spent a large portion of the agonizingly slow drive to school banging his forehead on the stearing wheel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/my-brother-spent-a-large-portion-of-the-agonizingly-slow-drive-to/)

[Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/)

> [“Don't call me that," I muttered, banging my forehead into my locker. "And the tutoring went fabulous. Please kill me now." -Meghan Chase”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/don-t-call-me-that-i-muttered-banging-my-forehead-into-my-locker-and/)

[Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/)

> [Something about her suggested that her leisure activities included wrestling large woodland animals and banging bricks together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/something-about-her-suggested-that-her-leisure-activities-included/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [At moments when life is at its worst there are two things you can do: 1.) break down,lose hope and refuse to go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/at-moments-when-life-is-at-its-worst-there-are-two-things-you-can-do/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [I've been playing my instrument since I was about three or four. That's when I started banging around on the piano, trying to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-wolff/i-ve-been-playing-my-instrument-since-i-was-about-three-or-four-that/)

[Nat Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-wolff/)

> [The important thing is to learn a lesson every time you lose. Life is a learning process and you have to try to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/the-important-thing-is-to-learn-a-lesson-every-time-you-lose-life-is/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [You always want to try, in everything you do, to attempt something you've never tried before, and the only way to succeed at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-willimon/you-always-want-to-try-in-everything-you-do-to-attempt-something-you/)

[Beau Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-willimon/)

> [How can you not love a man banging on the drums? He knows how to keep a rhythm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malin-akerman/how-can-you-not-love-a-man-banging-on-the-drums-he-knows-how-to-keep/)

[Malin Akerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malin-akerman/)

> [I love the protests. And if you think about it, what better way to send a message to Wall Street than by sitting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-love-the-protests-and-if-you-think-about-it-what-better-way-to-send/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [Basically Ken is a very gentle, home-loving person. I remember when one of his stick insects had a knee infection. He stayed up all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/basically-ken-is-a-very-gentle-home-loving-person-i-remember-when-one/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [“the rest of you... keep banging the rocks together”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-rest-of-you-keep-banging-the-rocks-together/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [The Metallica film was like this incredible life experience where I learned the most through guys that stereotypically you would think couldn't offer much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-berlinger/the-metallica-film-was-like-this-incredible-life-experience-where-i/)

[Joe Berlinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-berlinger/)

> [A lot of banging in the head has built up over the decades, and for my own sanity, I needed to write. I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/a-lot-of-banging-in-the-head-has-built-up-over-the-decades-and-for-my/)

[Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/)

> [I was banging seven-gram rocks, because that’s how I roll. I have one speed, I have one gear: Go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/i-was-banging-seven-gram-rocks-because-that-s-how-i-roll-i-have-one/)

[Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/)

## More by Maureen Johnson

> [“Knowledge is the heaviest weight of all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/knowledge-is-the-heaviest-weight-of-all/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [There is no normal. I've never met a normal person. The concept is flawed. It implies that there is only one way people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/there-is-no-normal-i-ve-never-met-a-normal-person-the-concept-is/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [I may have been a complete lunatic, but I was a complete lunatic with manners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/i-may-have-been-a-complete-lunatic-but-i-was-a-complete-lunatic-with/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [This kind of thing always amazed Ginny--people who just walked away from institutions. People who left school when they didn't see the point. Aunt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/this-kind-of-thing-always-amazed-ginny-people-who-just-walked-away/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [Did you hear?" he asked. "They found another body around nine this morning. It's the Ripper, definitely." "Good morning," I replied. "Morning. Listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/did-you-hear-he-asked-they-found-another-body-around-nine-this/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [She was standing in the airport of Copenhagen, staring at a doorway, trying to figure out if it was (a) a bathroom and (b)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/she-was-standing-in-the-airport-of-copenhagen-staring-at-a-doorway/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [When I worked in theater, I was always writing things on Post-it Notes and sticking them on screens or desks. Twitter has given me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/when-i-worked-in-theater-i-was-always-writing-things-on-post-it-notes/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [She had always thought applying to college would be exciting. Living away from home, meeting so many new people, Learning new things, making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/she-had-always-thought-applying-to-college-would-be-exciting-living/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [“Vitamin D,” Stevie said. “You need it.” “You don’t know that,” he said. “I want to eat my meat in my room with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/vitamin-d-stevie-said-you-need-it-you-don-t-know-that-he-said-i-want/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [No one hid their interest when I walked into the room. I'm not sure if it was the news about Boo or my general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/no-one-hid-their-interest-when-i-walked-into-the-room-i-m-not-sure-if/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [You'd been petting a stuffed dog?' she said 'A dead one?' 'It was a really well stuffed dog' I clarified. 'I have seen some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/you-d-been-petting-a-stuffed-dog-she-said-a-dead-one-it-was-a-really/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [“When she emerged, Keith was watching the tiny round window of the under-the-counter washing machine. "Put your clothes in for a wash," he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/when-she-emerged-keith-was-watching-the-tiny-round-window-of-the/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [“For you, there is underage, and then, there is underage. I believe a taste of wine is perfectly acceptable, but please stick to one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/for-you-there-is-underage-and-then-there-is-underage-i-believe-a/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [Rory: "People are being serious." Jazza: "There's a serial killer out there. Of course people are being serious." Rory: "Yeah, but what are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/rory-people-are-being-serious-jazza-there-s-a-serial-killer-out-there/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [Boo: "Go talk to her." Callum: "About what?" Boo: "Anything." Callum: "You want me to walk up to her and say, 'Are you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/boo-go-talk-to-her-callum-about-what-boo-anything-callum-you-want-me/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

[Explore all 262 Maureen Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

## More Banging quotes

> [I was banging seven-gram rocks, because that’s how I roll. I have one speed, I have one gear: Go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/i-was-banging-seven-gram-rocks-because-that-s-how-i-roll-i-have-one/)

[Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/)

> [A lot of banging in the head has built up over the decades, and for my own sanity, I needed to write. I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/a-lot-of-banging-in-the-head-has-built-up-over-the-decades-and-for-my/)

[Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/)

> [The Metallica film was like this incredible life experience where I learned the most through guys that stereotypically you would think couldn't offer much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-berlinger/the-metallica-film-was-like-this-incredible-life-experience-where-i/)

[Joe Berlinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-berlinger/)

> [“the rest of you... keep banging the rocks together”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-rest-of-you-keep-banging-the-rocks-together/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [Basically Ken is a very gentle, home-loving person. I remember when one of his stick insects had a knee infection. He stayed up all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/basically-ken-is-a-very-gentle-home-loving-person-i-remember-when-one/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [I love the protests. And if you think about it, what better way to send a message to Wall Street than by sitting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-love-the-protests-and-if-you-think-about-it-what-better-way-to-send/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [How can you not love a man banging on the drums? He knows how to keep a rhythm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malin-akerman/how-can-you-not-love-a-man-banging-on-the-drums-he-knows-how-to-keep/)

[Malin Akerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malin-akerman/)

> [You always want to try, in everything you do, to attempt something you've never tried before, and the only way to succeed at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-willimon/you-always-want-to-try-in-everything-you-do-to-attempt-something-you/)

[Beau Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-willimon/)

> [The important thing is to learn a lesson every time you lose. Life is a learning process and you have to try to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/the-important-thing-is-to-learn-a-lesson-every-time-you-lose-life-is/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [I've been playing my instrument since I was about three or four. That's when I started banging around on the piano, trying to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-wolff/i-ve-been-playing-my-instrument-since-i-was-about-three-or-four-that/)

[Nat Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-wolff/)

> [At moments when life is at its worst there are two things you can do: 1.) break down,lose hope and refuse to go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/at-moments-when-life-is-at-its-worst-there-are-two-things-you-can-do/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [The music I used to make was a lot more rock, so I come from this background of head banging a lot, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/the-music-i-used-to-make-was-a-lot-more-rock-so-i-come-from-this/)

[St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/)

> [Directing takes a lot longer than acting. This was about seven years in development, and then two and a half years with pre-production, production,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/directing-takes-a-lot-longer-than-acting-this-was-about-seven-years/)

[David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/)

> [And if there are no cars or planes, and if no one’s Uncle John is out in the wood lot west of town banging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/and-if-there-are-no-cars-or-planes-and-if-no-one-s-uncle-john-is-out/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [Music loud, hear it banging through the whole street. Beat getting shit on: toilet bowl seat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-miller/music-loud-hear-it-banging-through-the-whole-street-beat-getting-shit/)

[Mac Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-miller/)

Browse all 179 Banging quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Stuart must have sensed my despair from the way I began lightly banging my forehead on the table.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Maureen Johnson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/stuart-must-have-sensed-my-despair-from-the-way-i-began-lightly/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Banging"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/stuart-must-have-sensed-my-despair-from-the-way-i-began-lightly/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/maureen-johnson-1282_banging_stuart-must-have-sensed-my-despair-from_1884053.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/maureen-johnson-1282_banging_stuart-must-have-sensed-my-despair-from_1884053.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/maureen-johnson-1282_banging_stuart-must-have-sensed-my-despair-from_1884053.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Stuart must have sensed my despair from the way I began lightly banging my forehead on the table.” — Maureen Johnson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Maureen Johnson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Stuart must have sensed my despair...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/stuart-must-have-sensed-my-despair-from-the-way-i-began-lightly/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/stuart-must-have-sensed-my-despair-from-the-way-i-began-lightly/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
