Skip to main content

NAMI New Jersey 2011 Conference- My Experience

Dr. Rebecca Roma and myself attended the NAMI New Jersey conference: "Shaping the Future of Mental Healthcare," which took place earlier today. NAMI New Jersey screened the new Schizophrenia documentary that we were both featured in called, "Living with Schizophrenia: A Call for Hope and Recovery." We were accompanied by a few Janssen executives and associates, Janssen funded and produced the documentary. It was a pleasure meeting Dr. Roma because I discovered some of her volunteer work projects and reason for getting in the medical field among other interesting conversation.

I had a great experience! I listened to some great speakers and among them was Dr. Robin Eubanks, who had a lot humor, energy, and really got the audience talking- it was interactive. Also I was able to get my questions answered in a workshop, "Choices in Recovery" (a Janssen program) about Schizophrenia. Overall, I had an amazing experience- having the opportunity to meet Dr. Roma and to be a part a wonderful documentary and NAMI New Jersey conference.

For more info about Schizophrenia visit Embracing My Mind, Inc., NAMI, Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia (Canada).
Labels:

Comments

Julie Gammack said…
Ashley. I love your blog.
I just started one a week ago to chronicle my journey in understanding my 27 year old son's schizophrenia. Wish you two could meet each other.

I'd love to know your thoughts : http://crowdhealing.blogspot.com/

Julie Gammack
June 22, 2011 at 8:44 PM
Ashley Smith said…
Hi Julie,

Thank you for the invitation to your blog. I will check it out.

Best regards,
Ashley Smith
June 25, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Leslie Segev said…
Hi Ashley,
I am trying to help my sister who has schizophrenia with paranoia. I would love to contact you to learn more about your journey to recovery in the hope that you could help us with her recovery.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Leslie Segev
July 4, 2011 at 6:18 PM
Ashley Smith said…
Hi Leslie,

Sorry for delay... I enjoy sharing my story and helping others. You may contact me by email at info@embracingmymind.org

Best regards,
Ashley Smith
July 9, 2011 at 8:15 AM
Anonymous said…
I recently watched a very inspiring documentary about a schizophrenic artist Alan Streets, which I believe should be mentioned.
“My Name is Alan, and I Paint Pictures” is a film about the schizophrenic Artist Alan Streets.
He is a streets painter who specializes in painting buildings in the street that are right in front of him. He travels all over the US and paints daily.
The documentary My Name is Alan, and I Paint Pictures focuses on Alan’s life as he works to break his way into the professional art world.
The film also addresses larger issues which directly or indirectly affect Alan. Subjects addressed include the treatment and diagnosis of Paranoid Schizophrenia; the therapeutic benefits of art for mental illness. Alan Streets sells his paintings on his website at http://www.alanstreetsstore.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCcc3-uR35M
Alan’s life and his daily struggles with schizophrenia is actually very inspiring.
July 18, 2011 at 5:41 PM
Mental Health Specialist said…
Ashley,

It's great to hear how you are coping with schizophrenia. Blog therapy, as opposed to typical call for therapy is certainly one great way to surpass the hardships. This is truly inspiring.
September 7, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Anonymous said…
PLEASE can you email me with the contact information about the artist Alan Streets.


I am a NAMI volunteer and mental health advocate and consumer, as well.
My son 31 has schizophrenia and perhaps he would like to learn more about recovery blogs.
Thanks, Susan Panaro
January 18, 2012 at 9:29 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Religious Preoccupation

After a talk, a woman asked me if my faith contributed to my recovery because she noticed that I mentioned it throughout my speech. In addition to that, she told me that she observed people with faith as having a better outcome in their mental health recovery.

First, I came from a family with Christian values. My faith in God started to get intense during the latter years of high school, which in my opinion, is when I started having symptoms. In my experience religion plays a major role in my mental health- its delusions, its coping skills, and in my recovery. In medical terms they call my religious rituals and delusions "religious preoccupation."

Before I was diagnosed I was highly religious. In fact, I wanted to be an evangelist and to go to a Christian college. I would read my Bible for several hours a day throughout the day, listen to hymns, and meditate. Sometimes I would ignore people if they wanted my attention while I was meditating I was in such deep thought. Also, I …
15 comments
Read more

How Can I Support Someone with Persecution Delusions

Recently, a reader asked how to support, or what to say to someone who has persecutory delusions and confides in them. I thought this question was profound. By investigating this question it could help so many people maintain or develop a trusting relationship with their relative, friend, or client, etc. I asked the opinion of my therapist, and she gave some pointers and asked me to remember a time when I was psychotic and what could someone have said to me to make me feel more comfortable...

When I was at my peak of psychosis everything was a sign from God- that truck making a U-turn meant go back, that taxi cab driver telling me to stay out of trouble meant he was in on it too. While I was psychotic I heard conflicting voices. When I would ask someone a question on the phone the voices would give different information. I was extremely paranoid. And almost everyone was a threat. I couldn't confide in relatives because they would tell my secrets, I couldn't trust friends becaus…
11 comments
Read more

Lack of Trust: A Byproduct of My Mental Illness

In this entry, I'll share my experiences with Schizophrenia in regards to feeling lack of trust in others, paranoia, and isolation.... I remember my many episodes with Schizophrenia where I felt uneasy because of lack of trust in others. In the past, isolation was a giant bullying me around.

Sometimes my mind would take me to a place of fear, hurt, and an unsettling spirit, which started with what seemed like a strange look, or a different feeling around an individual, when in reality it was another symptom of my undiagnosed illness- paranoia. My paranoia was rampant and dictated my life prior to experiencing a crisis, which led me to jail and into forced treatment and to receive an official diagnosis of Schizophrenia in 2007.

In other words, my illness created enemies in my mind. For instance, I once believed my favorite kin was against me and I felt like she wanted me to fail, and I eventually thought she was conspiring to harm me. However, she never said anything to imply these f…
13 comments
Read more