About

My name is Ashden Smith. My purpose dawned on me when I had left an abusive relationship after five years. I began writing about everything I had gone through and my struggles to rebuild my life. Once I started working in mental health, I realized how my story and the research I had conducted impacted and helped, not only the patients I was working with, but also my coworkers and friends. I hope the information and research I share will continue to pay it forward and help many others living with mental health struggles.

I obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Psychology with an added emphasis in Marketing. I originally worked in education for about 8 years, then helped run an art studio making monsters for the Halloween scene for about 5 years (now this is a story in which you will read about), currently I work in mental health therapy with a diverse demographic of individuals. I have seen and learned about so many different types of depression and anxiety. I have heard so many interesting stories and ways people have survived the demons in their head. The encouraging thing is no matter how old we get or how set in our ways we are, we all have the ability to change not only the way we think, but also the way we live our lives.

My issues with depression and anxiety started when I was young. I have perpetually lived as an anxious person my entire life. I thought it was normal because I haven’t lived any other way. When I started working in the mental health field is when I realized I had a problem with anxiety and my thought processes. I had a lot of work to do on myself, especially if I was there to help people with the same debilitating condition. That is when I started reading, researching, and listening to podcasts and TED talks about how to deal with depression and anxiety. Next, I started teaching and coaching the individuals I was working with to see what helped and what did not. Everyone is very different, but with the new research coming out and the shift I feel that is coming to the field of psychology, we may have way more control than we think we do.

I named this blog and book, The Monsters Within, because the outside world is uncontrollable, and it is our mind’s story that truly narrates our lives. Some of our minds contain monsters that we have made through the years. I am hoping to help others create a mind of compassion and hope for themselves and their future.