Consider Yourself Hugged

In this Season 6 finale, Tami shares 10 simple holiday peace tips—HALT, emotional resets, joy rituals, and practical ways to trade perfection for presence. Real stories, real tools, and one powerful question: What will I remember in January? Show notes with links at https://www.tamiwest.com/post/10-holiday-peace-tipsConnect with us Instagram: Consider Yourself Hugged (new account!) TikTok: Short clips and stories YouTube: Full episodes + video snippets Women’s Group: A Place for Women—ongoing conversation **The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek help from a qualified professional. If you’re in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org for chat and resources. General Resources National Alliance of Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org Mental Healt

In this episode of The Holiday Peace Project,  Michelle and I talk about comparison,  from picture-perfect homes and social media scrolling to hash brown casserole in a condo sink. We’ll walk through the science of comparison, how it steals our peace, and simple tools to trade performance for presence this season. Show notes at https://www.tamiwest.com/post/comparison-holiday-peace-project-part-2.Connect with us Instagram: Consider Yourself Hugged (new account!) TikTok: Short clips and stories YouTube: Full episodes + video snippets Women’s Group: A Place for Women—ongoing conversation **The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek help from a qualified professional. If you’re in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org for chat and resources. General Resources National Alliance of Mental Illness

We’re kicking off the season with real stories, honest emotions, and practical ways to protect your peace when the holidays start to spiral. Full show notes with download at https://www.tamiwest.com/post/holiday-peace-projectMichelle’s back, and she’s sharing her husband’s heart scare, how gratitude and overwhelm can coexist, and what it means to truly care for yourself when life gets chaotic.Tami opens up about Thanksgiving burnout and how she finally learned to ask for help and let things be imperfect.

Can’t turn off “anxious math” at 2 a.m.? Tami shares the cassette-tape trick that changed her nights, the science of sleep cycles and body clocks, and a compassionate 4-step plan: journal, build sleep drive by day, create a soothing routine, and optimize your bedroom. Plus CBT-I tools that beat pills long-term, the ½-hour rule, and the Bluetooth headband that feels safe and cozy. Consistency over perfection—learn to sleep again.Show notes at https://www.tamiwest.com/post/sleep-betterConnect with us Instagram: Consider Yourself Hugged (new account!) TikTok: Short clips and stories YouTube: Full episodes + video snippets Women’s Group: A Place for Women—ongoing conversation **The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek help from a qualified professional. If you’re in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988li

This week, Tami and Michelle are joined by special guest Joy Huber, speaker, cancer survivor, and solo travel coach for women. Full show notes at https://www.tamiwest.com/post/travel-with-joyJoy shares her remarkable story of resilience and self-discovery after surviving stage four cancer at age 33. What began as a health crisis became a journey toward courage, freedom, and "joy," quite literally.Together, we talk about: 

Hey friends, it’s just me (Tami) today! Michelle will be back next week, but I wanted to share a few stories that really made me think about how we treat each other across generations.From an airport scene with a young woman rushing her grandmother, to a neighbor’s kindness toward younger moms, to my own journey with my mom, this episode is all about generational compassion: slowing down, noticing each other, and showing respect at every age. (FYI I won't be posting the video in the airport - blur became impossible!)We’ll talk about the rise in multigenerational living, the sandwich generation, and simple micro-habits that make a big difference, whether you’re caring for an aging parent, juggling kids, or just trying to be more patient. 

It’s just me this week, friends! In honor of World Mental Health Day, I’m sharing something close to my heart—how to find help when you need it.I tell three stories from my own journey, from my first panic attacks and a psych hospital stay to caring for my mom and learning (again) to ask for help. Then I walk you through practical ways to find support—911, 988, EAPs, community programs, faith-based care, and hidden insurance perks you might not even know you have.Because sometimes self-help is enough… and sometimes it’s not. And there’s no shame in getting more help when you need it.

In honor of World Mental Health Day, Michelle leads us through a compassionate talk about mental health diagnoses—what they mean, what they don’t, and how language, stigma, and support shape healing. Show notes at https://www.consideryourselfhugged.com/post/mental-health-diagnosesConnect with us Consider Yourself Hugged: New website Instagram: Consider Yourself Hugged (new account!) TikTok: Short clips and stories YouTube: Full episodes + video snippets Women’s Group: A Place for Women—ongoing conversation Thanks for joining!**The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek help from a qualified professional. If you’re in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org for chat and resources. General Resources National Alliance of Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org Mental Health America: https://mhanati

Sometimes the plan is… not to follow the plan! Michelle and I sat down today without a guest to talk about something that every one of us has faced: what to do when you hurt someone—and how to apologize. Show notes at https://www.consideryourselfhugged.com/post/the-apology-episode.Connect with us Consider Yourself Hugged: New website Instagram: Consider Yourself Hugged (new account!) TikTok: Short clips and stories YouTube: Full episodes + video snippets Women’s Group: A Place for Women—ongoing conversation Thanks for joining!**Not intended to be therapy or replace therapy - If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources: General Resources National Alliance of Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org Mental Health First Aid Resources: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/ Celebrate Recovery: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/ About AA: https://www.aa.org/ About Tami & Michelle:Michelle Kixmiller, PMHNPMichelle is a Board Certified Psych

In this episode, we sit down with Breanne Moore, LMFT, and the conversation goes everywhere from antique farm doors to self-esteem in the age of social media. Breanne introduces her refreshing concept of “down-dating” (hint: it’s about finding comfort in the past, not keeping up with Pinterest perfection), and she shares wisdom from her book I Am Because I Am. We talk about what it means to raise kids with healthy self-esteem, how families can reconnect around the dinner table, and how our worth is already rooted in who God created us to be. Add in some laughs, Michelle’s cat story, and Breanne’s Australian Shepherd  making an appearance—and you’ve got an episode full of heart, humor, and hope.Connect with us Consider Yourself Hugged: New website Instagram: Consider Yourself Hugged (new account!) TikTok: Short clips and stories YouTube: Full episodes + video snippets Women’s Group: A Place for Women—ongoing conversation Thanks for joining!**Not intended to be therapy or replace therapy - If you need fu

At just 23, Krislyn Mercer has turned babysitting into a thriving business, launched retreats, and has become a community leader. In this episode, we chat about her journey, lessons from the pandemic, her passion for service, and how she balances it all with authenticity and joy.Visit the Show Notes at https://www.consideryourselfhugged.com/post/episode-207-krislyn-mercer  for more!Connect with usConsider Yourself Hugged: New websiteInstagram: Consider Yourself Hugged (new account!)TikTok: Short clips and storiesYouTube: Full episodes + video snippetsWomen’s Group: A Place for Women—ongoing conversationThanks for joining!**Not intended to be therapy or replace therapy - If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources:General ResourcesNational Alliance of Mental Illness: https://www.nami.orgMental Health America: https://mhanational.orgMental Health First Aid Resources: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/Celebrate Recovery: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/About AA: https://www.aa.org/Abo

Today is a mix of teacher stories, life lessons, and a little bit of joy (including Michelle’s puppy yoga adventure!).We kick things off with some behind-the-scenes tech glitches—because let’s be honest, podcasting isn’t always glamorous. Then we dive into a real conversation about the Sunday Scaries. Tami shares how her anxiety as a teacher used to make Sundays unbearable, even leading to missed community time. Michelle opens up about her own “scaries” and how holding on to “the way things have always been done” made teaching harder.Here's what we talk about:How teachers can design their year instead of letting the year design them.The dangers of perfectionism and comparison (like trying to be the next TikTok Super Teacher!!!).Why setting boundaries early in your teaching career can protect your joy and help prevent burnout.How parents and teachers can connect with kids through simple daily rituals and better questions than “How was your day?”We remind ourselves and you: your strength is in being you. I

A New BeginningHey friends — it’s Tami and Michelle, and we’re BACK! New cozy studios, new workflow, new logo, new socials, and a fresh focus for the next few months… with the same mission: women’s mental & emotional well-being (teachers, we see you

In this final installment of our AI mini-series, we dive into the heart of the conversation: AI safety, ethics, trust, and how to use this powerful technology responsibly. With real-life stories, fascinating examples (including a fake AI-generated podcast!), and thoughtful questions, this episode is your guide to being smart—not scared—about AI.We’re not tech experts, and we don’t have to be. What we bring you is real talk from curious, cautious, and caring humans just like you. You’ll walk away with practical tools, deeper insight, and a renewed confidence to explore AI with your eyes wide open.

Thanks for joining!**Not intended to be therapy or replace therapy - If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources:General Resources National Alliance of Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org Mental Health First Aid Resources: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/ Celebrate Recovery: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/ About AA: https://www.aa.org/ Tami West, PhD Stress and Mental Health Expert Dr. Tami West uses her entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges. Connect with me:https://www.tamiwest.com/ facebook.com/tamiwestseminars   tamiwest@tamiwest.com

Welcome back! Today Michelle and I have spent the last few months diving deep into AI—how it works, how we can use it, and what impact it has on our mental and emotional well-being. AI is everywhere, and whether we like it or not, it’s influencing our daily lives. But can it actually support emotional health? Or does it take away from real human connection?In this episode, we share our personal experiences using AI for everything from journaling to simplifying life—and how we balance it with staying present in our relationships. We also include a short clip from James Barnes (Jamie, my son

Michelle and I started off trying to be super organized, but AI is such a HUGE topic that we found ourselves wandering down different rabbit holes! So, today’s episode is all about laying the groundwork—what AI is, how it can actually help with mental and emotional well-being, and why you don’t need to be afraid of it taking over your life.

Welcome back to Consider Yourself Hugged! Today, Michelle and I are diving into The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath—one of the most hauntingly personal books on mental health, identity, and societal pressure.From the weight of expectations on women to the stigma surrounding depression and treatment, this book is filled with themes that still hit home today. But, as ChatGPT pointed out when I was researching, Michelle and I tend to approach heavy topics with a lighter touch—so we’ll do our best to balance depth with relatability in today’s conversation.

Welcome back! Today Michelle and I dive deep into compassion fatigue, exploring how it impacts our mental health and well-being. We discuss symptoms, risk factors, and practical strategies we’ve found helpful in preventing or managing emotional exhaustion. We also introduce an alternative perspective on compassion fatigue and highlight the importance of self-care.