Overcoming Schizophrenia

Hi Overcoming Schizophrenia Blog Family, today my story was featured on the local news in Atlanta.  Sharing my story reminds me of those dark moments that created chaos for me and my family. However, through hope, loved ones and treatment and therapy, I'm able to experience better days.  First Recovery Speech; Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia (2010)   When I was diagnosed back in 2007, there were not a lot of people openly sharing their testimonies of recovery. Even the pharmaceutical companies didn't promote treatment for peers living with schizophrenia! I couldn't identify with any public figures who had schizophrenia. I remember a television special with Diana Ross; Out of the Darkness. Her character's story of recovery and schizophrenia reminds me of my own. That movie reiterated what recovery can look like. Here we are in 2025, there are a lot of individuals living with schizophrenia who articulate their recovery publicly. And, a lot of treatment options are pr...

  I appreciate the opportunity to share my story with Tony Mantor and the mental health community. This interview is one of many presented throughout the month of May on his show. Sharing my recovery story is my way of contributing to the anti-stigma campaign for mental health awareness. I had a great interview experience with Tony while reflecting on the events which led to my diagnosis of schizophrenia. My story is one of countless that shows the unfortunate link between mental health and the judicial system... For May Mental Health Awareness Month, veteran Nashville music producer and podcast host, Tony Mantor, continues to present daily mental health-related interviews for the Humanity Over Handcuffs: The Silent Special Series on Why Not Me The World Podcast, commemorating the start of Autism Acceptance Month in April.  "The series purpose is to refrain from assigning blame, and instead focus on developing solution driven strategies," Mantor said about the new podcast ser...

       Join the conversation in our Share it with Charlotte podcast interview: "Connecting With Ashley Smith's Journey - In Her Own Ink." Leave a comment. We discuss my journey of recovery, family life and new book, In Her Own Ink. Also, I encourage you to look at our past interview: Share it with Charlotte "Crushing the Spirit of Depression."      I appreciate the opportunity to discuss my story and to talk about mental health and my new book, In Her Own Ink. I enjoyed my experience on Charlotte's show because she always makes me feel at home.     Thank you, Charlotte for allowing me to share my passion that is diving into mental health talks and my books. I wish you well on your show and look forward to continuing our discussion on coping with schizophrenia and related conditions.

          I had a terrific interview with Sam an individual living with autism who is also a postdoctoral researcher. Frequently, he interviews people who are living with autism and other mental health conditions.       I enjoyed our interview because he allowed me the opportunity to discuss a lot of different aspects of living in recovery. Our interview focuses on a wide range of topics including schizophrenia symptoms, parenting with a diagnosis, advocacy, romantic relationships, caregivers - my recovery experience.       Do watch this video and learn more about my story and how an individual could cope with a diagnosis such as mine; schizoaffective disorder (bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia). I encourage you to review his other interviews as well and to subscribe to his YouTube channel, All Neurotypes Office; www.youtube.com/@allneurotypesoffice7037 and check out his website: www.allneurotypes.com ...

 My story is featured in the Schizophrenia Oral History Project. In 2017, I shared my experience in recovery with this group. Thank you, Dr. Tracy McDonough for our interview. Click here here to review.

This is a powerful interview because it shares not only my journey in recovery but how I've managed my parenting challenges. The interview discusses my blogging beginnings and especially the stigma of mental illness. Listen to my specific segment starting on 31 minutes into the interview. Click here here to listen. Thank you,  Kaia Findlay and Anita Rao on North Carolina Public Radio.

Huge shot out to Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance. Special thanks to interviewer,  Sandy Dimiterchik. Sandy, thank you for allowing me to be on the show and to share my experience in recovery. In this interview Sandy Dimiterchik and I talk about a wide range of recovery-oriented topics: Defining recovery  Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) by Mary Ellen Copeland Support network Hospitalization National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) CURESZ Foundation Stigma and more... Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance is a global impact organization moving individuals, families, and policies forward to improve and save lives. Click here to learn more about the organization, Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance 

[This talk: "Recommendations for People Experiencing Mental Health Challenges: Ashley Smith: Let's Talk - The Let's Talk Project is funded by a grant from the Association for Psychological Science Fund for Teaching and Public Understanding of Psychological Science.] This talk emphasizes the fact that recovery will look different for everybody, and it will be a fight. I encourage people with similar diagnoses to consider my three recommendations: Consider therapy, Strengthen your support system, and Manage your self-care "I'm not immune to setbacks and to breakdowns, but I am confident that I'm going to give it my all to come back stronger and better after every breakdown, because I've been through some rough moments and I probably have some ahead of me...."

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. I had the pleasure of being interviewed on the You Matter! Podcast by host Karen Ortman, Associate Vice President, Campus Safety Operations NYU-NY. This interview explores common myths, symptoms, and ways to cope with schizophrenia and related conditions. The show looks at my recovery journey and focuses on the early warning signs, challenges of being looked at differently, and how I stay motivated to work on my recovery. Click here to listen. I appreciate Karen for bringing awareness to schizophrenia because it is not given enough attention compared to other health issues. On the show we talk about my parenting concerns, alternative treatment options, and identify my new book. My book, What’s on My Mind? Volume I, Revised Edition (2022), is the updated version of my first blog book. It has a new introduction, final chapter, and added sections at the end of the book. It is available on my author page on Amazon . The You Matter! Podcast wa...

This is the third and last interview I had with Lauren from Living Well With Schizophrenia. I appreciate Lauren for shedding light on theses issues. Also, I encourage you to subscribe to her YouTube channel. Thank you so much, Lauren. Enjoy everybody.

In my interview with Lauren from Living Well With Schizophrenia we discuss some of the challenges of parenting while living with a diagnosis such as schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder. As a mental health advocate I aim to continue to empower you with information to change perspectives that is to fight the stigma of mental illness, and to connect.  In short, Lauren and I talk about my experience in recovery and how I manage symptoms and crisis as a mother... This is the first of a few interviews that we did.  To learn more about Lauren's advocacy and recovery story subscribe to her YouTube channel, and visit her website, Living Well With Schizophrenia:  https://www.livingwellwithschizophrenia.org/ Thank you Lauren and Rob for the opportunity to provide insight into this much needed discussion for hope and awareness. For our viewers- thank you.

I appreciate Jacqlyn Charles, host of The Women Are Worthy Show, for bringing attention to mental health challenges, such as mine. On September 16th, Jacqyln and I held a conversation about mental illness and its stigma.  Jacqyln referred to the "Acceptance" chapter of my book, What's On My Mind? Volume I. The opening statement was a question: "Is accepting mental illness the beginning of recovery?" Initially, my recovery was court-mandated. In other words, I had no choice, but to accept forced treatment due to the legal circumstances as articulated in my book. However, I gained acceptance quickly by the support of my treatment team and family. I recalled my mother's approach to my condition which was something I could learn how to manage because of my awareness of the diagnosis. My mother said: "At least you know what you have so that you can do something about it. Some people do not know what is going on with them." The stigma of men...