When You Lose It

'Read this book. Then talk to your sons. It is essential reading' Jamie Theakston

'An extraordinary and important book. Read it immediately' Claudia Winkleman

'Superbly written, this deeply moving book underlines how truly precious mother-daughter relationships are, and never more so than in those teenage years' Gloria Hunniford

A gripping memoir of two battling narratives and a mother-daughter relationship stretched to its absolute limits.

Roxy was 13 years old when she was coerced then blackmailed into sending explicit photos, which were spread around her school. The shame led to self-loathing. The blame led to a psychotic breakdown. Roxy started hearing voices. Then she started seeing things...

What happens when your teenager starts to lose it, and then you lose each other? What happens when you can't tell your mother you desperately need help? And how can a family move past a devastating mental health crisis?

When You Lose It is a brutally honest true story, written from two perspectives, of consent, coercion and shattering consequences.

“'Written with excruciating honesty ... For any parent open to learning from her own mistakes ... An act of self-exposure, honesty and altruism from both mother and daughter'”

The Times

Roxy was coerced and blackmailed when she was 13 years old. At 14, she suffered a psychotic breakdown. She spent the next 4 years putting her life back together and learning how to control her brain. Now, aged 19, she is studying maths and statistics with neuroscience at UCL. This is her first book.

Gay is the proud mother of 3 teenage daughters and the author of 12 books. She has been married for 24 years and has 2 dogs.

A gripping memoir of two battling narratives and a mother-daughter relationship stretched to its absolute limits. 'Read this book. Then talk to your sons. It is essential reading' Jamie Theakston 'An extraordinary and important book. Read it immediately' Claudia Winkleman 'Superbly written, this deeply moving book underlines how truly precious mother-daughter relationships are, and never more so than in those teenage years' Gloria Hunniford Roxy was 13 years old when she was coerced then blackmailed into sending explicit photos, which were spread around her school. The shame led to self-loathing. The blame led to a psychotic breakdown. Roxy started hearing voices. Then she started seeing things... What happens when your teenager starts to lose it, and then you lose each other? What happens when you can't tell your mother you desperately need help? And how can a family move past a devastating mental health crisis? When You Lose It is a brutally honest true story, written from two perspectives, of consent, coercion and shattering consequences.

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