John Mulaney's Ex-wife Anna Marie Tendler Recalls Mental Health Struggles And Psychiatric Stay In Upcoming Memoir

Anna Marie Tendler, John Mulaney's ex-wife, shares her mental health journey and details of her psychiatric stay in her upcoming memoir Men Have Called Her Crazy, releasing this August.

Updated on Jul 25, 2024  |  05:30 PM IST |  81K
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Trigger Warning: This article contains references to suicide, self-harm, eating disorder and more

Anna Marie Tendler is ready to tell her story three years after her split with her husband of six years, John Mulaney. The multimedia artist will be detailing her mental health journey, including her two-week stay at a psychiatric hospital, in her memoir Men Have Called Her Crazy, due August 13.

An excerpt from the book was published in Elle on Wednesday, July 23. Read on for an early peek at Tendler’s journey through “intense suicidal ideation, self-harm, disordered eating,” and more. 

Anna Marie Tendler details her experience at a psychiatric facility

Tendler writes in her novel that she entered the facility on the recommendation of her therapist, who “was at a loss” for what to do with her. Tendler, per the Elle excerpt of her book, arranged ahead of time to stay at a women-only facility because she couldn't stand being around men at the time. Her therapist advised her otherwise.

Tendler checked herself in at the beginning of 2021, when her then-husband Mulaney was in rehab for his alcohol and cocaine problems.

She, in her book, recounts being asked about her past physical and sexual abuse by a therapist at the hospital and recalls how it was easier to unload the burden to a stranger. As for her suicidal thoughts, Tendler says she had previously written a suicide note, but she didn't plan on dying. Instead, she used self-harm as a mechanism to cope with her depression and anxiety.

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“I wanted to die, but I cut myself instead, and that cutting wasn't meant to kill me,” the Elle excerpt from Tendler’s upcoming book reads.

In her dark time, Tendler, remarkably, kept the hope to get better alive, telling a nurse, “My wish for myself is that one day I’ll reach a place where I can face hardships without trying to destroy myself.” 

Tendler announced her memoir in March


The 39-year-old said at the time that she had never been more proud of any work. “It is a story about mental health; about being a woman; about family. And finally, about the endless source of my heartbreak and rage — men,” she wrote of her book on Instagram.

Tendler noted that she had been writing this book for two years, but it felt as if she had been writing it her whole life. 

If you know someone who is having suicidal thoughts, anxiety, going through depression, or is suffering from a serious mental illness, reach out to a nearby doctor, mental health expert, or an NGO for immediate help.​ There are several helplines available for the same.

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ALSO READ: Who is John Mulaney's Ex Anna Marie Tendler? Everything to Know About Her as She Gears Up for Memoir Release

FAQ

What is the title of Anna Marie Tendler's memoir?
The title of her memoir is Men Have Called Her Crazy.

What topics does the memoir cover?
The memoir covers Tendler's mental health journey, including her experiences with intense suicidal ideation, self-harm, disordered eating, and her stay at a psychiatric hospital.

What has Anna Marie Tendler said about her journey and the book?
Tendler has expressed pride in the memoir, describing it as a story about mental health, being a woman, and family. She also mentions it as an exploration of the sources of her heartbreak and rage.

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