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-tips Connect with us Instagram: Consider Yourself Hugged (new account!) TikTok: Short...

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....

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. Ta...

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...

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...

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, notici...

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-bas...

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 episo...

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 epis...

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...

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...

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 misse...

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 i...

🎧 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, an...

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...

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: htt...

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 e...

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, absur...

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 researc...

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 F...

💡 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 over✅ Our personal burnout experiences & strategies that helped✅ Self-assessments and resources to help you check in with yourselfMore in show...

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 critic. We'll explore how the book's concepts apply to our own experiences with anxiety, depression, and mental well-being. Key Takeawa...

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 adventures we didn’t quite plan for. Who knew sticky notes and snow could be so memorable (you’ll have to watch/listen to hear THAT story! 🤣)!But this epis...

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 in some fun and laughter because, let’s face it, life can be messy and unpredictable—but that’s what makes it beautiful. Take a moment to grab your coff...

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 the heart-wrenching yet beautiful journey of Lisa Marie’s life, her relationships, and the legacy she left behind. Stick around until the end because we...