My fascination with schizophrenia continues to this day, even though I finished researching the devastating mental illness and the impact it has on families for my novel more than four years ago. I still avidly read medical studies, articles and accounts of the complex illness that affects so many individuals. Recently, I had the pleasure of reading one of the best accounts of what it's like to live with mental illness, and how to successfully cope with the disease when I picked up Ashley Smith's book What's on My Mind.

Ashley is an advocate for mental illness and the founder and executive director of a non-profit called Embracing My Mind, which works to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness that prevents so many from seeking the help they need. What's on my Mind, which was published earlier this year (2014) is her latest advocacy effort. The book is a collection of blog entries culled from Ashley's award-winning blog Overcoming Schizophrenia” and provides an honest and powerful account of Ashley's experiences living with the disease. It covers the dark days of the onset of her illness, where she candidly addresses her first terrifying psychotic break and the disordered thinking that led her to behave in bizarre ways. She addresses her denial that she was ill, which is a common symptom of the disease, and how she learned how to accept the diagnosis and treatment.

Even more importantly, Ashley wrote about the coping skills she developed; information that provides both a blueprint for those living with disease as well as hope. The book also addresses her setbacks, fears, successes, hopes and dreams, and the need to remain committed to her treatment plans.

Very well-written and informative, this book is a fascinating look at what it's like living with a serious mental illness, and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants or needs to learn more about schizophrenia.

Ashley's blog is found online at www.overcomingschizophrenia.blogspot.com. Embracing My Mind can be found at http://emminc-recovery.org/Home.html and at https://www.facebook.com/emminc.