Sweet Freedom: Mending a Heart Broken by Mental Illness tells the story of one woman’s courageous struggle to overcome mental illness and live an independent, productive life filled with friends, love, and hope. After she began experiencing hallucinations and other symptoms as an adolescent, Bonnie Twomey endured peer ridicule, family frustration, and ineffective medical intervention before she was finally diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Putting a name to her demons was just the beginning of Bonnie’s journey. Learning how to thrive while living with mental illness would be an ongoing, two steps forward, one step back process that demanded honest introspection, cutting ties with negative influences, and enduring a healthcare system that too often fails patients