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Consider Yourself Hugged

Author: Tami West and Michelle Kixmiller

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Thanks for visiting with us at for Consider Yourself Hugged: Mental & emotional well-being.” Do you find yourself thinking, "Life can be so overwhelming! I feel so frustrated all the time! I worry about everything! I wish I could speak up more and not be a doormat!" 


If you're looking for improved mental and emotional well-being, please join us every Wednesday as we talk about how to make positive choices in your life.


*Disclaimer:The information in this show is not intended to be therapy or to address your individual situation. It is information based on my experiences, opinions, and research. If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources mentioned in the show notes.


About us:

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. Her passion stems from a lifelong battle with an anxiety disorder which has uniquely equipped her to teach, encourage, and motivate others. Tami has worked in a variety of industries including healthcare, school nutrition, corporate sales, and 10 years as a public-school teacher. In 2013 she received her PhD in Human Development, studying the connections among stress, emotions, and identity. Dr. West has spoken in 48 states across the US, as well as the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Dr. West is the author of several successful publications including two books: The Stress Club, Life Without the Monsters and Thrive. She is a mother of eight in a blended family and enjoys reading historical fiction, traveling with her husband Tim and family, and watching The Big Bang Theory.


Michelle Kixmiller, MSN, MAE, RN, APN, PMHNP-BC
Michelle Kixmiller is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Licensed Educator. She works with children and adults with mental health needs including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Michelle served as a public school teacher and science department chair for over a decade when a family tragedy pulled her in a different direction. The death of her younger brother after a multiple year battle with depression and alcoholism led her to pursue a career in the mental health field. She went back to school to become a registered nurse graduating and gaining experience as a critical care nurse at a level 1 regional burn center prior to completing a graduate degree to become a mental health nurse practitioner. Her vision is holistic care through teamwork to create a more peaceful school environment for students and staff alike. No one should have to struggle alone. Michelle currently works full time for a non-profit community mental health center at an outpatient clinic and works PRN for an inpatient crisis stabilization unit. When not at work she loves spending time with family, traveling, watching movies (not scary ones), and running (slowly). Contact Michelle at mkixmill@gmail.com.

221 Episodes
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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-tips 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—...
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 c...
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-project Michelle’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 thing...
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-better Connect...
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-joy Joy 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: 💛 How solo travel can heal and empower women 💛 Safety, con...
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 ...
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...
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-diagnoses 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 informati...
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 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 informat...
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 wo...
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 us Consider Yourself Hugged: New websiteInstagram: Consider Yourself Hugged (new account!)Ti...
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 ...
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 today's episode, we will catch you up on what’s been happening, celebrate milestones, and give you a sneak peek into what to expect in the upcoming episodes. *Disclaimer:The information in this show is not intended to be therapy or to a...
🎧 Episode SummaryIn our powerful season finale, Tami and Michelle and I are joined by Tami’s younger sister Brittney, a 911 dispatcher in Metro Nashville. This deeply personal episode pulls back the curtain on what it’s really like to handle crisis calls, especially involving mental health.Brittney shares how she found her way to dispatching after personal loss, what it’s like to manage PTSD, anxiety, and depression while helping others in crisis, and what everyone should know about calling 9...
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 entertaini...
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 a...
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 ...
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. 😆We also sprinkled in some fun AI-generated jokes, absurd wellness tips, and a guessing game where AI shocked us all by figuring out Michelle’s mystery ob...
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 ...
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.🛑 Key Topics:What is Compassion Fatigue? 💙The emotional toll of constant caregiving 🩺Symptoms and warning signs 🚨Is it really compa...
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