Published by: Made For Success Publishing
Release Date: May 25, 2021
Pages: 300
ISBN13: 978-1641466226
Buy the Book: Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

Support Your Local Bookstore: Harvard Bookstore, Porter Square Books, Powell's

 

OVERVIEW

Are you ready to find your way out of your box?

There is a moment when you realize your life is no longer your own. You made it picture perfect. You thought it would make you happy and whole. You thought you could seal the walls tight and feel safe. But the panic doesn’t pass, and the anxiety seeps in through every crack. Your pain uses perfection to hide the unraveling. But deep inside, you still hear the whisper of a voice that’s always been there, calling to you, promising that you were meant for more.

In The Box, Wendy Tamis Robbins offers a window into the mental illness of an all-star athlete, Ivy League-graduate, and successful attorney. At just 6 years old, Wendy’s first panic attack sparked a 40-year struggle with a variety of anxiety disorders: generalized, social and health, eating disorders, phobias, intrusive and suicidal thoughts, and dissociation. Avoiding anything that could trigger her symptoms, she retreats into a box to contain and hide her condition. After years of living in the prison she originally constructed as her safe place, Wendy is no longer willing to limit her life to accommodate her disorders.

Raw and powerful, vulnerable and intimate, The Box is both a triumphant memoir and an irresistible invitation. It portrays a courageous journey to find the source of a debilitating disorder in order to find the power to overcome it. Wendy’s experience reminds us of the redemptive power of forgiveness and the healing power of love, not just for others, but for ourselves. It is a story of courage that reframes mental illness sufferers as survivors—a powerful portrait of a woman who refused to remain caged in a box of her making. Now, the invitation is yours… if you are willing to accept it.

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PRAISE

“This book is a love letter to anyone who's ever struggled to understand—and find hope—while dealing with the loneliness and frustration of anxiety.”
—Brenda Ockun, StepMom Magazine, Founder/Publisher

“The Box is a daring investigation that gives voice to the experiences we box and bottle up.”
—Courtney Joly-Lowdermilk, M.S.Ed., Boston University

“Wendy’s journey to overcome debilitating mental illness reminds us how serious mental health is, and that you are not alone if you are struggling. Read this book and set yourself free to your best life!”
—Janelle Bruland, Author of The Success Lie: 5 Simple Truths to Overcome Overwhelm and Achieve Peace of Mind

“Robbins is so real about how her refusal to keep her anxieties hidden ultimately changed her life. And that makes The Box a must-read for anyone who’s been silently struggling with mental illness out of fear that there’s no hope for change. Because Wendy proves that change IS possible when you choose to take control of your disorder and live your life with resilience.”
—Lisa Sugarman, nationally syndicated columnist, radio show host, and author of How To Raise Perfectly Imperfect Kids And Be Ok With It, Untying Parent Anxiety, and LIFE: It Is What It Is

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REVIEWS

“The story, on both its reality-based and literary-based planes, is remarkable. But the hat really goes off to Robbins telling it the way she does, without it ever descending into maudlin drivel or any sort of self-pitying narcissism. The place it’s coming from is personal, but Robbins’ sharing of intimate moments with the reader makes it feel real in an individualistic sense for whoever soaks up the words. A fearsome and beautiful achievement, one I thoroughly recommend even to the most Type A of personalities out there – who probably need it the most.”
—Read Garth Thomas' full review on The Hollywood Digest

“[H]er prose is lyrical and imaginative, often reaching into the mystical. An informative, painful, and engaging portrait of acute anxiety that ends on a high note.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“[The Box]…is something that will inspire everyone, everywhere. You don’t have to be a successful attorney, or a gentleman down on his luck to appreciate the strength and struggle Robbins conveys. You just have to be open to your own, respective humanity.”
—Colin Jordan, Medium

“Wendy Tamis Robbins comes across as a woman with the world in her pocket. She’s an esteemed law attorney, complete retrospectively with accomplishments such as being a Dartmouth College graduate and a decorated, all-star athlete.No matter how dark things become for her, all you need to do is put the book down (impossible to do) and remember you’re reading the self-professed ruminations and revelations of a post-modern, successful woman. Someone at a glance who, once again, seems like she has the entirety of the world in her pocket. If she can reach such a place in life despite all that darkness, then so can you…”
—Read Alexander’s full review on Goodreads

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BOOK OF THE MONTH

“Through such candid yet effectively dramatic prose, Robbins proves herself not only an even-handed literary force but also a master storyteller. You can feel the pain searing through the passages aptly describing the phenomena she endured for years, making someone in her position speaking openly about mental health not only intellectually comprehensible but emotionally understandable as well.”
—Read Kendall Townsend's full review on The Magic Pen

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WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

Amazon

“I am such a believer in the power of good story telling. I appreciate that this is not a self-help book but rather and beautifully written personal account of one woman's journey through anxiety, starting in childhood. Her story is gripping and her ability to convey the depths of the pain, fear and hopelessness of anxiety makes any reader feel less alone. I will recommend this to all I know, and there are many, with anxiety issues. She brings hope to those of us who are struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
—KC Reader

“To say I loved this book, is an understatement. I fell into this book head first. Wendy chronicles her struggles from childhood to adulthood in a way that makes you want to read more. She is brutally honest about her struggles and how she works to overcome them. Wendy has taken a tough subject, and made it approachable and so easy to relate to. I encourage anybody suffering with anxiety and mental illness or anybody that has friends or family that battles with mental illness, to read this book cover to cover. If I could give this book 10 stars, I would.”
—Christine L.

“The author gently guides you to the hope that the possibility to control your anxiety and fear instead of it controlling you can actually happen. She shares the tools she used to start living her best life. I highly recommend this book!”
—Doreen K.

“This book is sooooo good! The author relives her painful story of living with debilitating anxiety, and how she found a way to come out on the other side. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s relatable!! It gives meaning and deep understanding to something that was rarely talked about at the time her anxiety began. It’s a MUST read!!! Two thumbs up!!!”
—Amy J.

“This story struck home. It's so hard to identify types of anxieties, co-diagnoses, label stigmas, etc. I can empathize and sympathize with the author here. I love when people can be honest and point out just how debilitating it can be, but how strong some people can be in learning to cope with their symptoms. I hope at least one person who needs the strength has a chance to read this.”
—A. L.

“We all hold ourselves back in different ways and The Box is meant to break you free! Well written and highly recommended.”
—The Vault Publishing

“I’m so glad I read this book! I completely related to the struggles depicted so beautifully in this insightful narrative.”
—Scott B.

“I am grateful that I found this gem of a book and I am already applying what I have learned to my life.”
—VS Griffin

“Anxiety can be extremely isolating, but reading other's stories can make you realize that you're not alone. The author did a fantastic job of making the reader feel heard. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, or you're just around someone else that is, this book is definitely for you.”
—Caitlin

“You don't know, what you don't know! As a lifelong sufferer of OCD and panic attacks, The Box answered questions that I had no idea to even ask. A real eye opener and must read!”
—Sam Liebman, CEO Wealth Way Equity Group