The Mental Fight

In this episode of The Mental Fight, Kimberly addresses emotional challenges many face during the holiday season. She speaks on the importance of taking a pause, setting boundaries, and celebrating small victories. Kimberly encourages listeners to honor their mental and physical health, reminding them that it's okay to feel overwhelmed and that there is always hope for healing and progress. The episode concludes with a heartfelt prayer and encouragement. Chapters 01:26 Acknowledging the Challenges of the Year 02:48 Choosing Peace Over Performance 05:02 Celebrating Baby Steps 07:37 Honoring Your Nervous System 10:07 Finding Hope Amidst Struggles 12:06 Closing Prayer and Final Thoughts   For more encouragement, follow Kimberly on Instagram.  Subscribe and read Kimberly's work on Substack. 

Welcome back to The Mental Fight! After a hiatus, catch up with Kimberly on her journey with chronic illness. We chat about Hashimoto's, hypothyroidism, and the struggles this year brought. However, even in the ongoing struggle, there's hope. For more encouragement, follow Kimberly on Instagram.  Subscribe and read Kimberly's work on Substack. 

Today, we're thrilled to have Tanner Olson on the podcast! We chat about mental health, faith, hope, and lessons learned along the way. From infertility to adoption, Tanner bravely shares his journey. We also discuss his upcoming children's book, All the Things I Say to God: Learning to Pray Anytime, Anywhere. Tanner Olson is an author, spoken word poet, and storyteller based in Nashville, TN. Known for his heartfelt and hopeful voice, he travels the country sharing poetry and stories that weave together grace, humor, and faith. His work has been described as "hopefully unique and inviting," offering a fresh perspective on life's complexities with honesty and curiosity. Tanner is the author of multiple books, including Walk A Little Slower, All the Things I Say to God (Zonderkidz, April 2025), and an upcoming release with HarperCollins in February 2026. Discover more of his work at writtentospeak.com. You can also follow Tanner on Instagram. P.S. If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to leave a rating or review!

Today, we chat with author Elizabeth Laing Thompson and explore the complexities of friendship loss. Elizabeth shares insights from her book, When a Friendship Falls Apart, discussing the importance of understanding emotions, the challenges of navigating friendships, and the biblical perspective on forgiveness and healing.  She also shares practical tools, friendship myths, and necessary steps for reconciliation. In this episode, be encouraged to embrace new friendships despite past hurts. Elizabeth Laing Thompson is a speaker and novelist, and the author of many inspirational books for women and teens, including All the Feels, All the Feels for Teens, When God Says "Wait," and When a Friendship Falls Apart. She writes to help others find hope when they're waiting, help when they're hurting, and humor in holiness. Her work has appeared in numerous outlets including Proverbs 31, Ann Voskamp's website, Focus on the Family Magazine, and Brio Magazine. After a long struggle with infertility, Elizabeth and her husband, Kevin, became the always exhausted but totally grateful parents of four children, three of whom are now teenagers. When she's not inhaling Starbucks mochas and plotting her next book, Elizabeth works from home as an editor and church volunteer (that's code for "preacher's wife"), and as a snack maker, couch snuggler, laundry slayer, floor mopper, not-so-gourmet chef, and interpreter-slash-counselor of teenage feelings. She prays the lessons she is learning, trying to wrestle Christ into the chaos of daily life, will give others hope, practical help, and a lot of good laughs.

In this conversation, Jenn Soehnlin discusses special needs parenting and navigating grief and anxiety. She shares her journey of praying Scripture and the significance of community support. We also discuss breath prayers, worship music, and the importance of caring for our family's spiritual needs. Jenn Soehnlin enjoys writing about faith, praying Scripture, special needs parenting, and more at www.embracing.life. She is the author of Embracing This Special Life and On the Same Page with God.  She also loves spending time with her husband and two sons, curling up with a good book, meeting a friend at a coffee shop, or enjoying a wonder walk through nature. You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram. 

In this episode, we have a wonderful conversation with Bethany Peck. Bethany shares her experiences with mental health struggles, including anxiety, panic attacks, and PTSD. She bravely shares the impact of betrayal trauma and divorce. We also dive into hope, healing, nature, and embodied living.  Bethany is a writer and photographer living near the Chesapeake Bay in northeastern Maryland. She loves nature and writes about embodiment and experiencing God's love through creation at bethanypeck.org and on Instagram at @beautiful_purpose_writing. She's been featured in Fathom Magazine, The Way Back to Ourselves, The ClayJar Review, and other outlets. She and her dog, Hunter, stay active by hiking, paddleboarding, and enjoying long evening walks. You can also follow along on her Substack.

Get ready! Gain practical strategies for dealing with anxiety and surrendering in our day-to-day. In this encouraging conversation, Hadassah Treu shares her faith journey and personal struggles. She speaks on anxiety, depression, grief, infertility, overcoming, and the importance of lament. Hadassah emphasizes the significance of drawing near to God during difficult times and that there are blessings in our painful experiences.  Hadassah Treu is an award-winning international author, blogger, poet, speaker, and motivator. She is the Encouraging Blogger Award Winner for 2020 and the Literature Award Winner of the Municipality of Pazardzhik, Bulgaria for 2024. Hadassah loves to encourage and motivate people to stand firm in the faith, and to grow spiritually by applying biblical truths in their lives.  She is a regular contributor to several faith-based platforms like Devotable, Koinonia, and COMPEL Pro Proverbs 31 Ministries Blog. She has been featured on The Upper Room, (In)Courage, Proverbs 31 Ministries, Her View From Home, Living by Design Ministries, Thoughts About God, Aletheia Today, Today's Christian Living, and other popular sites and podcasts. Hadassah is also a contributing author to 13 devotional and poetry anthologies and the author of "Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become a Birthplace of Blessings" and 2 poetry books.  She's no stranger to suffering and losses. From the platform of her greatest pains equipped with lessons gathered on the way, she delivers a powerful message of comfort and hope, found in God's Word. Connect with Hadassah on her site onthewaybg.com.    Links:  Website: https://onthewaybg.com/ Join her community: https://subscribepage.io/joinmycommunity Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onthewaybg/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/onthewaybg Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.at/onthewaybg/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hadassahtreu-author Medium: https://medium.com/@hadassah.treu Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Treu-Hadassah/ Draw Near Book: https://a.co/d/gWfmBE3 Gumroad Shop: https://hadassahtreu.gumroad.com/

Do you struggle with imposter syndrome? Let's talk about it! Kimberly details her honest thoughts and ways to combat these unwanted feelings. She emphasizes the importance of faith, self-compassion, and prayer in navigating self-doubt and unworthiness. The good news is there's purpose in our lives, and we can learn to calm the overwhelm. Be sure to stick around for a few soothing prayers at the end. Grab 10 Breath Prayers for Anxiety HERE! Listen to the new Mental Fight playlist! For more encouragement, follow Kimberly on Instagram.  Follow along on Facebook.

In this conversation, Kimberly discusses the pressures of the new year and why we should prioritize our spiritual health. She also gives ways we can dive deeper into our faith. Every decision we make is a soul decision, and every soul decision matters. Ultimately, keeping our eyes on God is a daily practice that will promote peace and purpose.  Grab 10 Breath Prayers for Anxiety HERE! Read the Substack piece mentioned, "Less Noise, More Rest."  Listen to the new Mental Fight playlist! For more encouragement, follow Kimberly on Instagram.   

Do you need hope and encouragement for the new year? Today, Kimberly details that God is in control, and that's okay. We also recap on the past year of The Mental Fight. Leave this episode renewed and empowered. Lastly, Kimberly gives you prayers as we head into 2025. Listen to the new Mental Fight playlist! For more encouragement, follow Kimberly on Instagram.  Grab 10 Breath Prayers for Anxiety HERE!  

How do we embrace God's love in the everyday? Today, we have a wonderful conversation with author Rachael Adams as we dive into her new book, Everyday Prayers for Love: Learning to Love God, Others, and Even Yourself. This episode discusses God's love, self-love, and how we can love others effectively.  Rachael Adams is the host of The Love Offering Podcast, and the author of A Little Goes a Long Way: 52 Days to a Significant Life. Rachael hopes to help women realize God's love and their significance. She and her husband live in Kentucky with their two children. Download Rachael's free resources. Grab her book, Everyday Prayers for Love: Learning to Love God, Others, and Even Yourself.     

How do we rebuild our lives after it falls apart? Today, we dive into Dawn's journey through grief and loss, particularly after the unexpected death of her husband and her experiences with miscarriage. Dawn shares her insights on rebuilding life through God's creative process, emphasizing the importance of community support, spiritual growth, and celebrating the small wins. Dawn Mann Sanders (MDiv, Bethel Seminary) is an associate minister at First Baptist Church of Glenarden (FBCG), where she serves as the director of the sermon-based life groups ministry. Her passion is expository teaching and sharing the wonderful insights God has shown her in his Word. She does this through writing weekly discussion guides for the life groups as well as teaching several in-depth Bible studies. Dawn has written and taught extensively on overcoming adversity and creating a new life, both at FBCG and on her personal blog. Take Dawn's quiz, "What's Your Start-Over Style?" Grab her book, When Your World Ends: God's Creative Process for Rebuilding a Life.

We all struggle with confidence. In today's world, confidence can be difficult, especially when we crave external validation. Kimberly shares her journey, emphasizing how we must nurture inner confidence throughout each stage in life. We can also dive into our relationship with Christ to keep us strong and secure in our foundation.  Listen to the new Mental Fight playlist! For more encouragement, follow Kimberly on Instagram.  Grab 10 Breath Prayers for Anxiety HERE!

How do we find purpose after divorce? Laurie shares her faith journey, uplifting wisdom, and resilience in this episode. She also encourages others to move forward after experiencing struggle and betrayal. Through the unexpected loss of her 40-year marriage and the destruction of her home due to a hurricane, Laurie recognizes there's still joy amid life's challenges. Laurie Meek Watkins is a performer and speaker. She dedicates herself to helping others feel less alone in an imperfect world. Her mission is to walk this new journey with dignity and glorify God. Follow Laurie on Instagram. Visit her website HERE!  

Kimberly gives personal insight on what's saving her soul right now. She chats about books, the healing power of music, laughter, and dietary changes. While Kimberly gives a health update, she also provides simple yet powerful encouragement for mental and spiritual health.   Listen to the new Mental Fight playlist! For more encouragement, follow Kimberly on Instagram.  Grab 10 Breath Prayers for Anxiety HERE!    

In this conversation, author Lea Turner shares her journey through grief and trauma. She also encourages parents, especially those with struggling teens, and highlights the importance of friendships and community.  Lea Turner is a heartfelt, empathetic writer and speaker who longs to meet and encourage us in our pain. Joyfully broken through three years of her family struggling with trauma and loss, including death, cancer, losing everything to a house fire, drug addiction, loss of a dream, and heart surgery, has made her a reluctant expert on grief. Lea is a soulful listener and wisdom seeker passionate about walking with grieving people through trauma, pain, and loss. She lives in Mississippi with her husband and five kids, making her a northern girl stuck in a Southern world. Learn more at leaturner.com Follow Lea on IG: @leajturner Find her on Facebook Grab her book, The Freedom to Feel: Finding God in the Midst of Grief and Trauma, HERE!

In this heartfelt conversation, Kimberly speaks on the struggles of anxiety and grief and the importance of feeling one's emotions. We're calling this episode the mental health refresher. Kimberly reminds us of peace and comfort today, our core mission for The Mental Fight. Whether you're new to this podcast or have been here for a while, it's time to unwind, close your eyes, and breathe. For more encouragement, follow Kimberly on Instagram.  Grab 10 Breath Prayers for Anxiety HERE!    

Today, we dive into Michelle's journey of faith, her experiences with marriage and motherhood, and the challenges of grief and loss. Through miscarriages and her stillborn son, Michelle found strength and encouragement through prayer and scripture. She also shares how we can seek Jesus in everyday life. You can find Michelle on Instagram here!  Listen to her podcast!

Do you long for restoration? Kimberly shares hope and reassurance for eternity. While we may never see total restoration here on earth or in our bodies, we can get tiny glimpses of peace and comfort. God may feel far, but He's always with us in our journey.  For more encouragement, follow Kimberly on Instagram.  Grab 10 Breath Prayers for Anxiety HERE!

Relationships are complicated, yet we all need them. Along the way, we'll have some incredible relationships. But the best relationship we can have is with God. He nourishes our souls and never leaves us. He's there for us in our mental health journey. In this episode, learn how to cultivate a deeper relationship with our Lord and get uplifting encouragement and prayers from Kimberly.  For more, follow Kimberly on Instagram HERE. Grab 10 Breath Prayers for Anxiety!