MJ Murray Vachon LCSW
Creating Midlife Calm: Coping Skills for Stress & Anxiety in Family, Work & Relationships
Coping Skills for Midlife Stress and Anxiety in Family, Work & Relationships Forget the midlife crisis—how about creating midlife calm ? The anxiety and stress of this life stage can drain your energy, fuel overthinking, and make it hard to enjoy what should be the best years of your life. This podcast offers practical coping skills to help you reduce anxiety, manage stress, and rediscover a calmer, more confident version of yourself. In Creating Midlife Calm , you’ll discover how to: Be happier, more present, and more effective at home and work. Transform stress and anxiety into powerful tool...
Author
MJ Murray Vachon LCSW
Category
Podcast website
Latest episode
Jul 10, 2026
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Episodes
Ep. 158 How To Know If Cannabis Is Quietly Worsening Anxiety & Stress for You or Your Kids in Midlife 15.05.2025 14:56
Are you or you kids relying on cannabis to unwind, sleep, or deal with anxiety? You’re not alone—and you’re not broken—but you might be self-medicating in a way that’s backfiring. In this episode you’ll discover: How cannabis quietly shifts from a tool to a trap—and the signs you’re missing. The difference between social and chronic use and why it matters for your anxiety. Why modeling healthy...
Ep. 157 Why Alcohol Makes Your Stress & Anxiety WORSE in Midlife & 4 Coping Skills That Actually Work 12.05.2025 13:23
Are you still reaching for a glass of wine to take the edge off midlife anxiety? What once felt like a relaxing ritual may now be working against your peace, sleep, and sanity. In this episode, you’ll discover: 1. Why midlife hormonal and brain changes can cause alcohol to increase—not relieve—your anxiety. 2. Four healthier, science-backed coping skills that will REALLY help your...
Ep. 156 A Midlife Couple Shares Their Journey With Pancreatic Cancer, Stress, Anxiety, and Coping Skills 11.05.2025 49:39
What if the way you respond to crisis could reshape your anxiety—and your relationships? This powerful episode reveals how one midlife couple used emotional presence, humor, and grounded coping skills to face a devastating cancer diagnosis. Discover: 1. Coping skills that hold both grief and joy in times of deep uncertainty 2. Why emotional honesty—not toughness—relieves midlife anxiety du...
Ep. 155 Practical Coping Skills You Need to Enhance the Effectiveness of Your Anxiety Medication in Midlife 08.05.2025 12:32
Are you frustrated that anxiety medication isn’t giving you the relief you hoped for? If you’ve been relying solely on medication and still struggle with anxiety, there’s hope. In this episode you’ll discover: Five simple, no-cost strategies to enhance your medication’s effectiveness and build a more balanced life. How to shift your mindset from “I need to fix my anxiety” to “I need to improve my...
Ep. 154: Causes of Midlife Weight Gain from Anxiety Meds & Easy Coping Skills to Reverse It 05.05.2025 10:38
Are you concerned about weight gain after starting anxiety medication? You don’t have to choose between your mental health and your physical health. In this episode, you’ll discover: The key reasons why some anxiety medications lead to weight gain and how to identify if it's affecting you. Four effective strategies to prevent and manage medication-related weight changes. How to work with y...
Ep. 153 How Midlife Caregiving Triggers Stress, Anxiety & Identity Loss and Coping Skills to Ease the Ache 01.05.2025 11:07
Are you quietly grieving while still showing up for everyone else? Your kids need you differently, and your parent needs you more—everything inside can start to shift. I n this episode you’ll discover: A deeper understanding of how anxiety and buziness in midlife often masks hidden grief of these profound relationship changes Practical coping tools to manage emotional overwhelm and identity shifts...
Ep. 152 How Midlife Caregiving's Invisible Weight & Coping Skills to Ease the Burden of Stress & Anxiety 28.04.2025 10:31
Feeling mentally drained by caring for both your kids and aging parents? You might be carrying an invisible load that’s fueling your anxiety—and it’s more common than you think. In this episode, you’ll discover: 1. 3 transformative coping skills to ease the mental weight of caregiving. 2. How to identify what’s your responsibility and what isn’t to decrease overwhelm. 3. ...
Ep. 151 Practical Coping Skills to Ease Emotional and Physical Fatigue & Stress During a Crisis in Midlife 24.04.2025 13:35
Are you blaming yourself for being too tired in a crisis? Loss, illness, or major life upheaval can leave you emotionally raw and physically depleted. In this episode you’ll discover: Why exhaustion hits so hard during crisis and doable ways to get more energy. Simple but effective coping skills to regulate your nervous system to improve your sleep and stay grounded. How to find strength in rec...
Ep. 150 Coping Skills to Ease Stress & Anxiety When a Crisis Shakes Your Midlife Calm 21.04.2025 12:05
What do you do when everything falls apart? Shifting from a reactive to a reflective mindset can make all the difference. In this episode, you’ll discover: 1. A step-by-step process to ground yourself during emotional shock using body-based coping skills 2. The “tend and befriend” mindset that helps you move through pain and anger with compassion 3. Real-life stories showing how vulnera...
Ep. 149 Trump’s Tariffs Spiked One Midlife Listener’s Anxiety & Stress and 3 Coping Skills Helped 17.04.2025 14:53
Is your anxiety spiking every time Trump’s tariffs make headlines? You’re not alone—and it’s not just about politics, it’s about your nervous system. In this episode you’ll discover: How to shift from news-induced anxiety to calm by using this 2 simple technique. How guided meditation can help to reduce anxiety around world events, like Trump's tariffs The brain science behind this 1 essent...
Ep. 148 How to Cope with Financial Stress & Anxiety During Trump Induced Tariffs, Market Stress and Economic Uncertainty 14.04.2025 12:26
Feeling overwhelmed by the uncertainty of the economy and unsure how to stay grounded? Discover calming, practical strategies—whether you’re stressing about college costs, retirement, or just making it to next payday. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why your brain spirals into anxiety during economic uncertainty — and how to calm it The unexpected power of nature-based meditation (even if you’re n...
Ep. 147 How Midlife Stress & Anxiety Is Driving Your Isolation & Loneliness & 2 Powerful Ways to Reconnect 10.04.2025 10:13
Is your anxiety quietly fueling a sense of loneliness you can't quite name? You may be crushing your to-do list but still feeling emotionally isolated or unseen, you’re not alone. In this episode you’ll discover: How anxiety masks itself as busyness, numbing, and overthinking in midlife Why avoiding connection increases loneliness—and how to gently reverse it Two powerful (and doable) co...
Ep. 146 How Loneliness Is Quietly Draining Your Happiness, Increasing Your Stress & 4 Coping Skills to Rebuild Connection in Midlife 07.04.2025 14:05
Loneliness in midlife often creeps in unnoticed. You go through the motions—work, family, responsibilities—but something feels off. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why midlife loneliness is so common and why it often goes unrecognized. Four powerful strategies to build deeper, more fulfilling connections. How small, intentional actions can help you feel seen, heard, and truly connected again. Lo...
Ep. 145 Tried & Tested Transformative Coping Skills for Midlife Stress & Anxiety & How They REALLY Work 03.04.2025 13:26
Are you secretly scared to feel your feelings—especially in the middle of setting boundaries? Setting boundaries is essential, especially if you want to get your wants & needs to be heard. In this episode, you’ll discover: How a guest pushes back on MJ's 5 science-backed coping skills--making them even more usable. Real talk on emotional stamina—why feeling your feelings actually build...
Ep. 144 How to Finally Feel Confident Setting Boundaries When Midlife Anxiety & Stress Makes It Feel Impossible 31.03.2025 11:56
Is anxiety stopping you from setting the boundaries you know you need? Get a clear, simple strategy to move through fear and finally take action to get what you want and need. In this episode, you’ll discover: 5 simple, actionable coping skills to manage anxiety when it flares up around boundary-setting Real-life client stories that show how midlife anxiety shows up in sneaky ways—and how to work...
Ep. 143 3 Powerful Coping Skills to Conquer Midlife Anxiety, Stress & Perfectionism for a Happier Life 27.03.2025 10:41
Are you constantly pushing yourself to the max, yet feeling exhausted and on edge? Doing less could actually help you achieve more . In this episode you’ll discover: 1. Why striving for perfection might be holding you back. 2. Two powerful midlife coping skills that make relaxation actually work for you. 3. How shifting to an 80% effort mindset can prevent burnout and improve productiv...
Ep. 142 The Hidden Anxiety & Stress of Midlife Overachievers and 3 Coping Skills to Finally Enjoy Your Success 24.03.2025 13:39
Do you feel like you're constantly running, as if a boulder is chasing you downhill? You can be successful and driven without the fear and exhaustion. In this episode you’ll discover: What truly fuels your success—it’s not your anxiety. Learn how to update your self-image and move through life with less urgency and more ease. Reframe your daily mindset by shifting from "I have to" t...
Ep. 141 The 3 Essential Hormones You Must Balance in Midlife for Less Anxiety, Stress, Better Sleep, and a Healthier Weight 20.03.2025 13:30
Are your midlife hormones working for you or against you? What if you could become your own hormone detective and start with the right tests and lifestyle changes? In this episode, you’ll discover: 1. The three essential hormones that impact your midlife health the most. How to talk to your doctor and get the right lab tests without frustration. Three simple, doable lifestyle changes that can...
Ep. 140 Understanding Hormones and Anxiety & Stress and How Midlife Women Can Regain Control 17.03.2025 11:28
Are you focusing on the wrong hormones in midlife? Many women believe estrogen is the key to feeling better, but what if the real secret lies elsewhere. In this episode, you’ll discover: 1. The three essential hormones that impact your mood, weight, and sleep. 2. Why your ovaries act like The Odd Couple and how that explains your hormonal ups and downs. 3. The surprising connection between your th...
Ep. 139 3 Essential Coping Skills to Break Free From Negative Thoughts and Calm Midlife Stress & Anxiety 13.03.2025 14:59
Tired of feeling stuck in negative thoughts? Your brain is wired to focus on the bad—but you don’t have to stay trapped in that cycle. In this episode, you’ll discover: 1. The science behind negativity bias and how to use this four-step method to hack your mind so you can experience more joy, calm, and fulfillment. 2. How to retrain your brain to focus on the positive—without toxic positivit...
Ep. 138 The 4-Step Brain Hack to Stop Intrusive Thoughts & Lower Stress & Anxiety in Midlife 10.03.2025 13:24
Ever had a frightening thought pop into your head that you just can’t shake ? Intrusive thoughts happen to everyone , but without the right tools, they can spiral into anxiety, stress, and sleepless nights. In this episode, you’ll discover: 1. How to recognize intrusive thoughts before they take over. 2. A powerful four-step process backed by science to stop anxious thoughts in their tra...
Ep. 135 5 Coping Skills for Midlife Parents to Reduce Stress & Anxiety, Strengthen Connection, and Navigate College Costs With Their Child 06.03.2025 15:23
Feeling overwhelmed by the financial burden of college? Navigating these tough conversations with your child without guilt, stress, or unnecessary conflict is not easy. In this episode, you’ll discover Five essential coping strategies to make informed, confident financial decisions while strengthening your relationship with your child. How to engage your child in financial discussions—even if they...
Ep. 134 5 Coping Skills to Help Midlife Parents Turn Their Child’s College & Job Rejection into Growth 03.03.2025 17:29
Have you ever felt the gut punch of watching your child face rejection—whether from a dream school, a job, or an opportunity they worked so hard for? For midlife parents, March brings more than blooming flowers—it’s also a season of tough decisions and, for many, painful rejections. In this episode, you’ll discover 1. Three essential coping strategies to help your child process rejection in a hea...
Ep. 133 4 Coping Skills to Handle a Critical Boss & Transform Midlife Self-Doubt & Anxiety into Self-Assurance 27.02.2025 18:59
Is your boss constantly demanding more while offering little support or recognition? If their negativity is draining your confidence, it’s time to shift the way you respond. In this episode, you’ll discover: 1. How to stop taking your boss’s behavior personally—because it’s not about you. 2. A mindset shift that frees up your mental energy and puts you back in control. 3. Practical tools to build...
Ep. 132 Eliminate the Stress & Anxiety of Imposter Syndrome Forever with These 3 Coping Skills 24.02.2025 17:21
Have you ever stepped into a new—whether at work, in your community, or in your personal life—only to feel like an imposter? Don’t let "imposter syndrome" take over and crush this great opportunity. In this episode you’ll discover: 1. Why the term “imposter syndrome” is outdated and how it may be holding you back. 2. Three proven coping skills to reduce anxiety and step into new role...
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