Oh my god!!! I sent an email to Marya Hornbacher (author of ‘Wasted’ & ‘Madness: A Bipolar Life’ etc) telling her how amazing and beautiful her writing was and she actually sent me an email back!! I had a fit when she replied.
Here it is:
“Dear Jessica,
Thank you so much for writing, and for your incredibly kind words about my memoirs. I am honored to know that you felt a connection with them, and so very glad to hear that they helped you on your journey to recovery in some way. Nothing could make me happier.
Your last words are so interesting–“outrun the beast that is our own madness”–and I want to say something about that. I am indeed very well these days, and have found the happiness, peace of mind, and stability I never thought would be possible for me. But a big part of that has been not so much outrunning the beast as accepting that it is a part of me, and a part of my life. That acceptance allows me to fear it less and manage it more effectively. I know that I have to do absolutely whatever is necessary to take care of myself, to laugh a lot, to love others well, and to live fully. Madness or no, this is my life to live and I intend to enjoy it. I encourage you to look for acceptance in yourself as well–I believe it just may be the key to our sanity.
My thoughts are with you, and I wish you the very best!
Be well,
Marya Hornbacher”
I think that I’m a little star struck! What I said to her which she quoted was, “Surely, we must eventually be able to outrun the beast that is our own madness”. What she says about it is so very true. I think I essentially knew it before but Marya has just cemented it in my brain. She is such an incredible woman to have experienced what she has and still be alive to be writing about it and living a full life today.
Just had to share this.
Lots of love,
Jessica xox
P.s. If you haven’t read her books, you absolutely must do!
Ana, Mia & Moi 
