Ashley Nestler, MSW
Bio
Ashley Nestler is a Bibliotherapist and a survivor of Schizoaffective Disorder, OCD, Quiet Borderline Personality, Fibromyalgia,multiple eating disorders, and C-PTSD. Ashley has dedicated her life to books and advocating for mental health.
Stories (58)
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Knee Deep By Karol Hoeffner
Synopsis Named after a hurricane, Camille is the rebellious 16-year-old daughter of a New Orleans bar-owner who grows up in the shadow of Bourbon Street, raised on stories of hauntings, lusty encounters and voodoo magic. And even though her family loses their home in a hurricane, she counts herself among the lucky until she discovers that her 18-year-old Creole neighbor whom she secretly loves died heroically in the storm. Devastated by Antwone's death, Camille begins taking unnecessary risks as if to prove she can be safe in an unsafe world. Her downward spiral is stopped by a spirit intercession. Based on the strength of her love and with the help of a dead voodoo queen, Camille wills Antwone back to earth. Because she is the only one who can see him; not his grandmother or his ex-girlfriend - she takes a kind of ownership of him in death that she never had in life. But gradually, she seeks something in their union beyond sex or love or passion—an understanding of the thin line between life and death itself and a need to find answers where none might lie. Camille's story unfolds as a Mardi Gras memoir, one girl's journey through the parties and parades as her community comes together and rises up from the chaos following the devastating storm. Like all good tales born of the bayou, hers involves the dead, the living, and the one trapped in the brackish waters between heaven and hell; a story of true love and true disaster.
By Ashley Nestler, MSW6 years ago in Humans
Talking Equal Rights and Social Justice with David Thibodeau
This week I had the pleasure of sitting down with Waco survivor and humanitarian, David Thibodeau! We discussed all things Waco, Black Lives Matter, and equality. David’s story and his humanitarian work are very inspiring, and I hope that you enjoy our interview as much as I enjoyed it!
By Ashley Nestler, MSW6 years ago in The Swamp
BOOK REVIEW: ON A BLUE MOON: THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEYS BY WILLOW
RATING: 4/5 FORMAT: PAPERBACK The lives of a man from Earth, an alien being, and a young girl converge on a moon deep in space. A violent act is the spark that ignites incredible journeys. The moon has three human societies. In each society there is an evil presence that the man, girl, their friends, and their loved ones must confront, or flee from. In the end, life on that moon is vastly transformed. Willow is the author of ON A BLUE MOON. That tale, and the five to follow, are based on her experiences, and the accounts related to her by the many beings she has known, both human and nonhuman. Those tales are collectively THE DAUGHTERS OF FIRTH TALES. At the beginning of each tale, after the Prologue and before the first chapter, Willow and her daughter, Frither, are together and interacting. Their banter is the thread that ties the six tales together by providing an introduction to each tale, and a hint about what’s to come. Sam is the main protagonist at the beginning of ON A BLUE MOON. As it and future tales progress, Willow, Frither, and the other daughters of Firth, become the driving force. Earth, as viewed from space, is primarily blue. So is Bluemoon. Bluemoon represents a much less complex version of Earth, yet possess some of the malignant forces of our “real world”: a malicious leader of an autocratic society, a ruthless despot who has his henchmen kill anyone who dares oppose him, racism, and environmental destruction. Shadow, an alien Meddler, represents an uncontrollable force that drastically alters Sam’s life’s journey, and that of the inhabitants of Bluemoon. Similar to how forces beyond our control shape our lives on Earth. Overriding everything else, the tales are about the courage of individuals intervening to protect the vulnerable, while so many others observe but do nothing.
By Ashley Nestler, MSW6 years ago in Futurism
Turn Your Rage Into Power
Rage has always been the most dreaded symptom that I experience from Borderline Personality Disorder. It tends to come out the strongest when I am extremely passionate about something, and the current events involving the murder of George Floyd have really been affecting me. The George Floyd murder ignited my BPD rage, and it has been burning off and on for days. My rage has kept me fired up and has made it hard to function, but the one good thing about experiencing BPD rage is that you can use it to inspire you to act and make positive change. If you are experiencing BPD rage, or any form of rage during this time, consider the following actions to positively channel your anger. Just remember to only do what feels right to you! And please stay safe.
By Ashley Nestler, MSW6 years ago in The Swamp
3 Books to Read If the George Floyd Case Has You Fired Up
So, I don’t know about you, but 2020 has been one heck of a year so far (to put it lightly). It seems like time has flown by, but so many things have happened that it is hard to keep track of the days. I have been struggling with my mental health for the past year and have been trying my best to manage it through COVID-19; however, I have felt a fire growing within me as things have escalated, and when the George Floyd case came to light, I just about exploded.
By Ashley Nestler, MSW6 years ago in The Swamp
How Horror Helps Me Take Control of My Anxiety
For as long as I can remember, I have struggled with anxiety. I grew up as an anxious child and I have struggled with severe worrying my entire life. I have been on and off various anxiety medications and have participated in just about every form of therapy and exercise designed to help relieve anxiety.
By Ashley Nestler, MSW6 years ago in Psyche
Radiant Love
During the current pandemic, our world has changed in many destructive ways; however, it has changed in one beautiful way as well – essential workers who otherwise might not have received recognition are now receiving the gratitude that they deserve. Healthcare workers have been the main focal point of our gratitude, but I’d like to highlight the essential workers who work as cashiers, clerks, or greeters; the essential workers who are at risk of exposure day in and day out – but continue on.
By Ashley Nestler, MSW6 years ago in Journal
Abandonment Issues and COVID-19
One of the symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder that I struggle with the most are feelings of abandonment. These feelings have mainly been connected to people in my personal life when I feel that they are drifting, leaving, or neglecting me. But something happened recently that completely knocked me off of my feet, and it was completely unexpected.
By Ashley Nestler, MSW6 years ago in Psyche
Come Home to a Place You Never Knew
I am a TV and movie fanatic - TV shows and movies help me to feel less alone and I love having my TV on in the background. I can't say that I have been watching more than usual during this quarantine because this is kind of my daily routine, but hey *cough, cough* the quarantine can be my excuse for watching more TV and movies than usual if need be (winky face).
By Ashley Nestler, MSW6 years ago in Geeks
Quarantine Blues
As someone with a compromised immune system, and someone who is having surgery within the next few days, quarantine has not ended for me despite the loosening of regulations here in Colorado. My golden birthday is in two weeks - I will be turning 26 on the 26th - and I am dreaming of what my perfect day might have been had we not been in a pandemic. This time last year I was suicidal and ended up being hospitalized over the past year for Major Depressive Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety, Bulimia, Fibromyalgia, and PTSD, so making it to my 26th birthday is a huge milestone for me. While I am dreaming about the day I might have had before our current pandemic I am just happy to be alive and to have made it to another birthday. It is the simple pleasures I have learned to appreciate, and it is those small acts that I miss the most.
By Ashley Nestler, MSW6 years ago in Motivation
Hopeful Sounds with an Emotional Twist
During this time, I have found comfort in songs that help me to have a strong sense of hope (with a cynical twist), inspire me to experience, express, and release my intense emotions - which all of the following songs are good for. My music taste is quite eclectic, but each song in this playlist represents a piece of my soul. I hope that it brings you some joy during this time!
By Ashley Nestler, MSW6 years ago in Beat
