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Consider Yourself Hugged
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.
Episodes
221 episodes
10 Holiday Peace Tips for Real Women, Real Life (Season 6 Finale)
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...
Comparison: The Holiday Peace Project Part 2
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 ...
The Holiday Peace Project begins!
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 ...
Hug 214: Sleep: The Science, the Struggles, and the Solutions
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, an...
Hug 213: Travel with Joy: Finding Yourself Through Solo Adventures
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 resi...
Hug 212: Generational Care, Generational Compassion
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 ...
Hug 211: Finding Help: Resources for Mental Health
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 st...
Hug 210: Not a Label, a Lifeline: Mental Health Diagnoses
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.consideryourselfhu...
Hug 209: Not Perfect, Just Growing: The apology episode
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.consideryourse...
Hug #208: "i am Because I Am": A Self-Esteem Conversation with Breanne Moore
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 f...
Hug 207: Community Building with Krislyn Mercer
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 balanc...
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Hug 206: The Sunday Scaries, Teacher Joy, and Puppy Yoga
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...
Hug #205 Welcome to Season 6: A New Beginning!
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, w...
Hug 204 On the Front Lines – Mental Health and the 911 Dispatcher Life with Brittney
🎧 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 crisi...
Hug 202 📌 Simplify Your Life with AI! 🚀 Save Time & Boost Productivity!
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://mhan...
Hug 203 🎙️ Smart Curiosity, Not Fear: A Real Talk on AI Safety & Ethics📝
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...
Hug 201 Boost Your Emotional Well-Being with AI! 🤖🧠
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...
Hug 200 What is AI and Why Should You Care? 🤖💡
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 me...
Hug 199 📚 "The Bell Jar": Breaking Free from Mental Traps 💡
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 th...
Hug 198 Understanding & Overcoming Compassion Fatigue 💙
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 ex...
Hug 197 🔥 Tackling Burnout: What It Is, Who’s at Risk, & How to Prevent It
💡 Feeling drained, exhausted, or unmotivated? Burnout is real, and in this episode, we’re diving deep into:✅ What burnout is (hint: it’s NOT just stress)✅ Who’s most at risk (it might surprise you!)✅ How to recognize and prevent it before it takes...
Hug 196 "Chatter" by Ethan Kross: Book Club #4 Final Week!
Chatter: Understanding & Managing Your Inner VoiceWelcome back! Today, we'll discuss Chatter by Ethan Kross, a book that dives deep into the nature of self-talk, how it can spiral into negativity, and practical strategies for quieting that inner c...
Hug 195 The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires: Book Club #3
Welcome back, friends! This week, Michelle and I are recording from the beautiful (and snowy) Orange Beach, Alabama, during our first annual (hopefully) women’s retreat. It’s been an incredible mix of relaxation, brainstorming, and… well, some adv...
Hug 194 The Hiding Place: Book Club #2
Welcome Back! We’re so glad you’re here for another episode of our book club series. This week, Michelle and I are diving into another powerful and thought-provoking book, and we can’t wait to share our thoughts with you. As always, we’ll sprinkle...
Hug 193 Book Club #1: From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley & Riley Keough
Welome!Hi, friends! Today we’re diving into Lisa Marie Presley’s book From Here to the Great Unknown. Michelle is taking the lead on this episode, but I just finished the book on Audible a couple of days ago and absolutely loved it. We’ll explore ...
