Breakthrough with Tony Robbins got a bit intense this week. The episode began with a family in the midst of what seemed to be an endless panic attack. Following a near-death accident with their daughter, husband and wife, Scott and Mandy Smith, were finding it hard to adjust to life and move past it. In fact, Mandy lost her job as a medical assistant because the sounds of ambulances turned her inside out. Her kids’ every movement was closely monitored. They were on high alert all the time and always expecting the worse. Luckily…Tony came along.
Short of boarding up their home and locking down the kids, Mandy was only a hair away from really losing it. She was completely overwhelmed by post-traumatic stress. You could actually argue that she was paralyzed by it. Although Scott seemed to be able to handle the stress a little better, he was in the constant throws of trying to calm and stabilize his wife. To make things worse, Rita, Mandy’s mother, was caught up in the drama. It was driving them apart and causing serious problems.
Tony brought Scott, Mandy, the kids and Rita to Fiji in hopes of making a breakthrough. He began first by sizing it all up. He quickly realized that Rita was right in the middle of everything. Despite trying to help, she had become a catalyst for drama herself. He knew he needed to get Rita invested in feeling as if she was important in the process. ..and it worked.
He began by putting Mandy and Scott in one villa and Rita and the kids in another. Once Mandy calmed down, we saw her mother storming down the path looking for her. Demanding that Mandy let her know where she was at all times, it became REAL clear that Mandy’s issues weren’t Mandy’s alone. After a talk with the couple, Tony set his sights on Rita. With harsh words and a firm tone, he made her realize that she wasn’t using her “power for good.” Pointing out the dysfunction, Tony pushed Mandy and the family towards their first adventure.
He had Mandy, Scott and the kids take a hike and camping through the trees, rocks and streams with a guide. Scott was handling the situation well but was hoping his wife would be able to handle it. Mandy was so irritated and mean. She was so unhappy. Later that night, the guide, Craig, shared a tragic story of how he lost his leg in an accident. She sat in front of the survivor and tried to take it all in. She felt connected and as if he understood. However, the following morning he delivered some bad news…he was leaving them and they were to hike the way out alone. They were to handle this as a family.
The family made it out with only a few arguments and tense moments. Although we hoped for a breakthrough, Mandy was still in full anger mode. Her relationship with Scott was not improving. It wasn’t until they made it out of the woods and stood in front of Tony that Mandy realized it.
She had bonded with her guide, Craig, and felt connected. But when Tony pulled out a letter to her from him, it rocked her. Craig called her out for being negative, spoiled and toxic when challenged. She was hurt, but she listened. She wasn’t surprised, but wasn’t sure how to change. Of course, Tony had a few ideas. He sent them white water rafting down the river…just Mandy, Scott and a guide. Halfway down the river, she recognized the good, healthy fear, adrenaline, and it seemed like a light went on. She was laughing and by the end of the trip she went up onto a rock and jumped in the river! Yes, JUMPED from a rock INTO the river. Amazing!
Tony knew there was one area left to address….the accident. Having Mandy walk through the accident and take away all of its power, she found herself referring to the day of the accident as “the day of the gift.” Finding the gifts through tragedy, she realized she could still help others and move beyond the fear. When Tony arranged for an ambulance to drive by, it didn’t evoke a panic attack. Instead it symbolized someone getting the gift of help…something she is trained to do. Unfortunately her family wasn’t aware the ambulance was driving by and Rita went into an attack. As Mandy ran to her side, she was in full help mode, taking care of her mom. The family was back on track and Scott and Mandy’s relationship was stronger than ever.
At the close of the show Tony showed Mandy a special message from someone she admired, Dr. Patch Adams. Offering her a week in Peru, Mandy had to agree to leave the kids in the hands of her husband…something she couldn’t have done a month ago. Without hesitation she was all in and so was her husband. An amazing transformation, thanks to Tony.