Just before she went off to college Ashlee's younger brother died in an ATV accident. With her soon-to-be-divorced parents grieving and her own uncertainty about how to cope with loss, she decided to leave for freshman year. Struggling once she was there, she dropped out and found work to help make her way while she figured out her future.
Within the next year, her mother would die by suicide and Ashlee spiraled into alcohol abuse and drug use. Unable to cope with her grief, Ashlee spent several years without hope and in a self-destructive cycle. But then like a light had turned on inside her, she decided that she didn't want to lose her girlfriend, she didn't want to stay trapped in a pattern of self-destruction, and she was ready to move on and build the life she wished for.
She rekindled her love of writing, enrolled back in school, made the President's List, and believes words are the most therapeutic a person has. In this episode, Ashlee talks about her losses and difficult years, her losses, and how she climbed her way out of her downward spiral.
Connect with Ashlee:
Website
Instagram
Connect With Ronit:
For more about this episode click here!
Instagram
Facebook
Two New podcasts, More Interviews!
Turning Dark Into Light- Twentyone Olive Trees :A Mother’s Walk Through the Grief of Suicide featuring Laura Formentini
Holding the Evangelical Church Accountable featuring Shelly Snow Pordea
Inside Passage: A Missing Father, a Fractured Childhood, and the Redemptive Power of Music featuring sisters Keema and Tekla Waterfield
Leaving the Unification Church after an Arranged Marriage featuring Limi Marie Bauer
Caring For and Writing About The Mother Who Betrayed You featuring author Laura Davis
Celebrating 100 Episodes: The Most Downloaded Episodes
Cults in Our Midst featuring Jen Kiaba
Sexuality IS Sacred featuring Suzanne Najarian
Becoming the Person You‘re Meant to Be After Childhood Violence, Drugs, and Neglect featuring Treveal Lynch
Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops featuring Allison Hong Merrill
Surviving Domestic Violence and Building a New Life featuring Sonia Frontera
Catalogue Baby - A memoir of (In)Fertility featuring Myriam Steinberg
My Salinger Year and a Second Chance at Love featuring Joanna Rakoff
Warrior Culture and Mental Health in Law Enforcement featuring Scott Medlin
Weed Mom featuring Danielle Simone Brand
Now Every Two Weeks!
A Life of Meaning After Profound Loss featuring Jacqueline Genovese
When the Only Choice is to Change Your Life featuring Artisha Bolding
Shattering Gender Roles in Japan featuring Shu Matsuo Post
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
Voices of Misery Podcast
House of Whimsical Terror
Dairyland Frights
Stuff You Should Know
Timcast IRL