Wendy Tamis Robbins anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and panic disorders started when she was a young child growing up in a volatile household. Anxiety controlled her life well into adulthood, to the point of agoraphobia. Despite this, she worked her way through Dartmouth College and law school before, in her 30s, she set her mind to overcoming the anxiety and panic attacks that increasingly limited her life.

It took many years and an unsuccessful marriage before she finally took hold of her mental health and escaped from her self-inflicted prison. By realising that no physical sensation comes without a thought preceeding it and cultivating awareness and recognition of where your anxiety is being stimulated, you can find the thoughts behind the anxiety. Understanding that these thoughts are optional means you can choose new ones that serve you better.