““At least when I was an adult, I had a name for what was wrong with me: manic depression. It's easier to make sense of things - even very disturbing things like sexual acting out and suicidality - when there's a big, fat label slapped on top. But as a child, I knew nothing. I had no diagnosis. All I had was a vague and gnawing awareness that I was different from other children, and that different was not good. Different must be kept hidden.””
![“I won't say that writing tamed the Black Beast. It soothed him, though, enough so he agreed simply to occupy a corner of my mind...Gradually, I redirected my focus and skills towards causes much closer to my own heart: writing and mental health advocacy. [...] I felt so good at times that I even…” quote by Terri Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9a3/terri-cheney-27205_health_i-won-t-say-that-writing-tamed-the-black_3167266.jpg)
![“[ ] manic sex isn't really intercourse. It's dicourse, just another way to ease the insatiable need for contact and communication. In place of words, I simply spoke with my skin.” quote by Terri Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aea/terri-cheney-27205_communication_manic-sex-isn-t-really-intercourse-it-s_1599815.jpg)
