Consider Yourself Hugged

By Tami West and Michelle Kixmiller

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Category: Mental Health

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Episodes: 218

Description

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.


Episode Date
Hug 214: Sleep: The Science, the Struggles, and the Solutions
Nov 05, 2025
Hug 213: Travel with Joy: Finding Yourself Through Solo Adventures
Oct 29, 2025
Hug 212: Generational Care, Generational Compassion
Oct 22, 2025
Hug 211: Finding Help: Resources for Mental Health
Oct 15, 2025
Hug 210: Not a Label, a Lifeline: Mental Health Diagnoses
Oct 08, 2025
Hug 209: Not Perfect, Just Growing: The apology episode
Oct 01, 2025
Hug #208: "i am Because I Am": A Self-Esteem Conversation with Breanne Moore
Sep 24, 2025
Hug 207: Community Building with Krislyn Mercer
Sep 17, 2025
Hug 206: The Sunday Scaries, Teacher Joy, and Puppy Yoga
Sep 10, 2025
Hug #205 Welcome to Season 6: A New Beginning!
Sep 03, 2025
Hug 204 On the Front Lines – Mental Health and the 911 Dispatcher Life with Brittney
Apr 02, 2025
Hug 203 🎙️ Smart Curiosity, Not Fear: A Real Talk on AI Safety & Ethics📝
Mar 24, 2025
Hug 202 📌 Simplify Your Life with AI! 🚀 Save Time & Boost Productivity!
Mar 24, 2025
Hug 201 Boost Your Emotional Well-Being with AI! 🤖🧠
Mar 05, 2025
Hug 200 What is AI and Why Should You Care? 🤖💡
Mar 01, 2025
Hug 199 📚 "The Bell Jar": Breaking Free from Mental Traps 💡
Feb 23, 2025
Hug 198 Understanding & Overcoming Compassion Fatigue 💙
Feb 19, 2025
Hug 197 🔥 Tackling Burnout: What It Is, Who’s at Risk, & How to Prevent It
Feb 12, 2025
Hug 196 "Chatter" by Ethan Kross: Book Club #4 Final Week!
Feb 05, 2025
Hug 195 The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires: Book Club #3
Jan 29, 2025
Hug 194 The Hiding Place: Book Club #2
Jan 22, 2025
Hug 193 Book Club #1: From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley & Riley Keough
Jan 15, 2025
Hug 192 Page Turners and Life Changers: Lessons from Our Favorite Books!
Jan 08, 2025
Hug 191 Are You Ready for Change in the New Year? Final Holiday Mental Health Guide
Dec 31, 2024
Hug 190 Merry Christmas! Holiday Mental Health Guide Part 6
Dec 25, 2024
Hug 189: Expectations, Family, Food, & Alcohol! Holiday Mental Health Guide Part 5
Dec 18, 2024
Hug #188 Repeat: Grief, Covid, & Jacuzzi Turkey: Holiday Mental Health Guide Part 4
Dec 04, 2024
Hug 187 What's Been Your Favorite Thanksgiving?: Holiday Mental Health Guide Part 3
Nov 27, 2024
Hug 186 Navigating Anxiety: Holiday Mental Health Guide Part 2
Nov 20, 2024
Hug 185 Navigating Depression: Holiday Mental Health Guide Part I
Nov 13, 2024
Hug 184 Your Positive Psychology Toolkit: Recap
Nov 06, 2024
Hug 183 Communication, Gratitude & Relationships Positive Psychology Part 9
Oct 23, 2024
Hug 182 Mindfulness: Positive Psychology Part 8
Oct 16, 2024
Hug 181 Intermission: Lessons So Far from Positive Psychology
Oct 09, 2024
Hug 180 Optimism & Motivation: Positive Psychology Part 7
Oct 02, 2024
Hug 179 Self Esteem & Confidence: Positive Psychology Part 6
Sep 25, 2024
Hug 178 Positive Emotions: Positive Psychology Part 5
Sep 18, 2024
Hug 177 Meaning & Accomplishments: Positive Psychology Part 4
Sep 11, 2024
Hug 176 Positive Psychology Part 3: Happiness & Wellbeing
Sep 04, 2024
Hug 175 Positive Psychology Part 2: Character Strengths
Aug 28, 2024
Hug 174 Positive Psychology Part I
Aug 21, 2024
Hug 173 Holistic Mental Health for YOU
Aug 14, 2024
Hug 172 Loving Someone to Death
Jun 11, 2024
Hug 171 Looking Back: Yearbooks, Reflections, and Lessons on Identity
Jun 05, 2024
Hug 170 From Chowchilla Kidnapping to the Death of Grayson Murray
May 29, 2024
Hug 169 From Bullying to Empowerment: My Story
May 22, 2024
Hug 168 Mental Health Awareness Month Part 3: Celebrate Mental Wellbeing!
May 15, 2024
Hug 167 Mental Health Awareness Month Part 2: Lead by Example
May 08, 2024
Hug 166 Mental Health Awareness Month Part I: Meditation with Dr Jennifer Fisch-Ferguson
May 01, 2024
Hug 165 Stress Awareness Month Part 4: Relationships
Apr 24, 2024
Hug 164 Stress Awareness Month Part III: Money!
Apr 17, 2024
Hug 163 Stress Awareness Month Part II: Family Responsibilities
Apr 10, 2024
Hug #162 Stress Awareness Month Part I: Developing Awareness
Apr 03, 2024
Hug #161 Perfectionism
Mar 27, 2024
Hug 160 Guilt: Another False Message
Mar 20, 2024
Hug 159 The Myth of “No Time for Self-Care”: And what to do about it Part II
Mar 13, 2024
Hug 158 The Myth of “No Time for Self-Care” Part I
Mar 06, 2024
Hug #157 Emotional Maturity Part IV
Feb 28, 2024
Episode 156 Emotional Maturity Part III: Responsibility, Adaptability & Resilience
Feb 21, 2024
Episode 155 Emotional Maturity Part II: Self-awareness, Self-regulation, and Empathy
Feb 14, 2024
Episode 154: Emotional Maturity Part I
Feb 07, 2024
Episode 153 Embracing AI with Tami & Jamie – A Journey of Innovation and Heart
Jan 31, 2024
Episode 152 Starting the New Year with a BANG!
Jan 24, 2024
Episode 151 Comfort in Difficult Situations
Oct 25, 2023
Episode 150 Toxic Positivity vs Healthy Attitude
Oct 18, 2023
Episode 149 Self-sabotage with Christina Woods
Oct 11, 2023
Special Episode: Family Mental Health Challenges: A conversation with my children
Oct 10, 2023
Episode 148 EFT Tapping with Theresa Levine
Oct 04, 2023
Episode 147 Judgement (Laziness), Compassion, and Emotional Maturity
Sep 27, 2023
Episode 146 The Double Life of Infertility with Amber Stuehser
Sep 20, 2023
Episode 145 Seven Tips for Blended Families
Sep 13, 2023
Episode 144 Emotions: Publix Blended Family Commercial
Sep 06, 2023
Episode 143 Women & Men Behaving Badly In the News: Speaking up or Acting Out? You Decide (Part II0
Aug 30, 2023
Episode 142 Women and Men Behaving Badly In the News: Speaking up or Acting Out? You Decide (Part I)
Aug 23, 2023
Episode 141 Creating Healthy Systems
Aug 09, 2023
Episode 140 What if Our Problems Aren’t "Our" Problems? (What if it’s other people's stuff?)
Aug 02, 2023
CYH 139 Problems Resources Part II
Jul 26, 2023
Episode 138 Identifying Problems & Solutions for Mental Wellbeing Part I
Jul 19, 2023
Episode 137 Language & Mental Health with Shelly Houser
Jul 12, 2023
Episode 136 Your Mental Health Quotient Part III
Jul 05, 2023
Episode 135 Mood/Outlook & Social Self: Mental Health Quotient Part II
Jun 28, 2023
Episode 134 Your Mental Health Quotient Part I
Jun 21, 2023
Episode 133 Aces Part 2 Audio
Jun 14, 2023
Episode 132 Healing and the ACE's Survey
Jun 07, 2023
Episode 131 Codependency: If You Are OK, I Am OK... Or Am I?
May 24, 2023
Episode 130 Living with a Diagnosis
May 17, 2023
Episode 129 Can We Do Anything to Prevent Mass Shootings?
Apr 05, 2023
Episode 128 When Tragedy Happens: Talking to your children
Mar 29, 2023
Episode 127 Seeing Yourself as Others See You
Mar 22, 2023
Episode 126 Mental Health & the Church Part 2
Mar 15, 2023
Episode 125 Mental Health & the Church Part 1
Mar 08, 2023
Episode 124 How Feeling Inadequate Serves You (at least for a minute)
Mar 01, 2023
Episode 123 Lead Like a Woman: Conversations with Grace & Salt with Melissa McCormick
Feb 22, 2023
Episode 122 Medication and Your Mental Health
Feb 08, 2023
Episode 121 Are You a Warner or a Welcomer: Choices & consequences
Feb 01, 2023
Episode 120 Is the World Making You Cynical? (And what to do about it)
Jan 25, 2023
Episode 119 Two Hidden Motives for Judging Others
Jan 18, 2023
Episode 118 Are You Stubborn? Consequences and how to change it
Jan 11, 2023
Episode 117 Your Mental Health Treatment in 2023: Where have we been? Where are we going? Part I
Jan 04, 2023
Episode 116 Christmas Season Gotcha Down?
Dec 21, 2022
Episode 115 Why "Managing Holiday Stress" Advice Doesn't Work
Dec 14, 2022
Episode 114 When Change Comes...Again!
Dec 07, 2022
Episode 113 She Loved Me Then She Bit Me: A lesson on gratitude
Nov 30, 2022
Episode 112 STORIES! (And 3 Tips For The Holidays)
Nov 23, 2022
Episode 111 Forgive Your Parents. Period
Nov 16, 2022
Episode 110 Panic Attacks(or Panic Disorder) and What to Do
Nov 09, 2022
Episode 109 5 Tips You Can Use NOW for Better Mental Health
Nov 02, 2022
Episode 108 Why "Let Go of What You Can't Control" Doesn't Work (and what do do about it!)
Oct 25, 2022
Episode 107 Perfectionism - GET OUT OF MY LIFE!
Oct 19, 2022
Episode 106 Mental Health: Past, Present, & Future
Oct 12, 2022
Episode 105 Mental Health in the Workplace: Choices & Conversations
Sep 28, 2022
Episode 104 Quitting or Quitter: What's the difference?
Sep 21, 2022
Episode 103 Mental Health and Self Talk: 3 Destructive voices
Sep 14, 2022
Episode 102 Be Careful How You Speak
Sep 07, 2022
Episode 101 Mental Health in a Post-Pandemic World
Aug 31, 2022
Special Episode: Handling the Tough Topics
Jun 28, 2022
Episode 100: Elizabeth Holmes - Final Episode of this Season
Mar 02, 2022
Episode 99: Ghislane Maxwell - Women in the News
Feb 16, 2022
CYH 98 Cheslie Kryst - Suicide by Pressure
Feb 02, 2022
Episode 97 Kim Potter: Women in the News
Jan 26, 2022
Episode 96 New Series: Women in the News
Jan 19, 2022
Episode 95: Holly Lamar - Approaching Life with Connection & Intent
Jan 12, 2022
Episode #94 Katie O'Malley "enCouraging Coaching"
Jan 05, 2022
Episode #93 Happy New Year!
Dec 29, 2021
Episode #92 Merry Christmas: Traditions & Memories
Dec 22, 2021
Episode #91 Baby Ruby: The Gift of a Heart Transplant
Dec 15, 2021
Episode #90 The Gift Of Giving with Lindsey Barnes
Dec 08, 2021
Episode #89 The Power Of Giving
Nov 30, 2021
Episode #88 Thanksgiving: Grief, Covid, and the Jacuzzi Turkey
Nov 24, 2021
Episode #87 "I Can Even Dance" with Beth Johnstone
Nov 17, 2021
Episode #86 Belonging Part II
Nov 10, 2021
Episode #85: Belonging
Nov 03, 2021
Episode #84 Castle To Cottage
Oct 27, 2021
Episode #83 Obsessed With Our Bruises Part 2
Oct 20, 2021
Episode #82: Obsessed With Our Bruises Part 1
Oct 13, 2021
The Bonus Episode- Gabby Petito: Women & Safety
Oct 06, 2021
Episode #81 The Final Episode
Apr 29, 2021
Episode #80 Empowering Women: Fear, the Good & the Bad with Rebecca Wiener McGregor
Apr 22, 2021
Episode #79 Empowering Women: Leadership with Ashlie Summer
Apr 15, 2021
Episode #78 Issues Surrounding "The Dance" - Grammy's Part II
Apr 08, 2021
Episode #77 Issues Surrounding "The Dance" - Grammy's Part I
Apr 01, 2021
Episode #76 "I Can See My Kneecaps!" A Weightloss Journey with Bethay Douglas
Mar 18, 2021
Episode #75 The Mind: Your Emotional Triggers
Mar 11, 2021
Episode #74 Women & Relationships with Jennifer Walden
Mar 04, 2021
Episode #73: Rescuing Faith with Jennifer Walden
Feb 25, 2021
Episode #72 Loving Your Body with Angela Howell
Feb 18, 2021
Episode #71 Women & Relationships
Feb 11, 2021
Episode #70 Women & Spirituality in a Pandemic
Feb 04, 2021
Episode #67 Welcome to the NEW Consider Yourself Hugged!
Jan 28, 2021
Episode #68 Calming the Mind
Jan 28, 2021
Episode #69 Discomfort is not Fatal - Your Physical Self
Jan 28, 2021
Episode #66 Today's Hug: Final Episode for this “Season” – Adventures!
Jun 09, 2020
Episode #65 Today's Hug: Changing Your Course vs Giving Up (And 5 Other Recent Lessons!)
May 26, 2020
Episode #64 Today's Hug: Patterns of Women, Session 5 – Stress Club
May 19, 2020
Episode #63 Today's Hug: The Word Stress, Session 4 – Got Gas
May 12, 2020
Episode #62 Todays Hug: Session 3 Book Study for Women: My Soul Sister
May 05, 2020
Episode #61 Todays Hug: Session 2 Book Study for Women: I'm Not Mad!
Apr 28, 2020
Episode #60 Todays Hug: Session 1 – Stress Club Study for Women
Apr 21, 2020
Episode #59 Today's Hug - Decisions to Make During This Tough Week Ahead
Apr 07, 2020
Episode #58 Today's Hug - Trauma with Dr. Jenny Severson
Mar 31, 2020
Episode #57 Today's Hug - Peace After Losing a Loved One
Mar 24, 2020
Episode #56 Today's Hug - Coronavirus: Your Mind & Emotions
Mar 17, 2020
Episode #55 Today's Hug - I Get Offended More Easily Than I’d Like!
Mar 10, 2020
Episode #54 Today's Hug - Emotions, Self-Care and Empathy with Dr. Jenny Severson
Mar 03, 2020
Episode #53 Today's Hug - Getting Through Tough Times with Jennifer Walden
Feb 25, 2020
Episode #52 Today's Hug - Adult Bullying with Donna Clark Love
Feb 18, 2020
Episode #51: Today's Hug - The Love Challenge Part II with Angela Howell
Feb 11, 2020
Episode #50: Today's Hug - The Love Challenge
Feb 04, 2020
Episode #49: Today's Hug - A Chat About Hugs With My Granddaughter Emma
Jan 28, 2020
Episode #48: Today's Hug - Do You REALLY Want Someone to Change Poor Behavior?
Jan 21, 2020
Episode #47: Today's Hug - Life Lessons From Disney Marathon (Chat with my son)
Jan 14, 2020
Episode #46: Today's Hug - Communicating In 2020: 10 Tips to Be Your Best Self
Jan 07, 2020
Episode #45: Today's Hug - 25 Years Since My House Burned Down
Dec 17, 2019
Episode #44: Today's Hug - Maintaining Mental Health When Diagnosed or Dealing w/ Dementia
Dec 10, 2019
Episode #43: Today's Hug - Dealing with Loss, Abandonment & Rejection with Erin Jones
Dec 03, 2019
Episode #42: Today's Hug - Simply Thanksgiving
Nov 26, 2019
Episode #41: Today's Hug - Three Reasons I’m Not Embarrassed by the Mental Hospital
Nov 19, 2019
Episode #40: Today's Hug - A Pastor’s Story: Addiction, Loving God, Loving People
Nov 12, 2019
Episode #39: Today's Hug - Our Inner Critics Part II
Nov 05, 2019
Episode #38: Today's Hug - BounceBackAbility With Special Guest Sarah Steele
Oct 29, 2019
Episode #37: Today’s Hug - "I'm so OCD! Are You Too?!"
Oct 22, 2019
Episode #36: Today’s Hug - What Type of Coffee Are You? Well-being and your personality style
Oct 15, 2019
Episode #35: Today’s Hug - Q & A From My Fabulous Listeners
Oct 08, 2019
Episode #34: Today’s Hug - Rest, Emotions, Choices, Thoughts & More – Another Chat With My Son
Oct 01, 2019
Episode #33: Today’s Hug - Our Inner Critics Are Winning! Why, and How to Get a Grip
Sep 24, 2019
Episode #32: Today’s Hug - "I About Killed My Dang Wife!": Choosing Your Words
Sep 10, 2019
Episode #31: Today's Hug - The Spot on My Face: A Lesson in Decision Making
Sep 03, 2019
Episode #30: Today's Hug - Legacy, A Teacher, a Student, and an Unexpected Lesson with Mary Smith
Aug 27, 2019
Episode #29: Today's Hug - Sometimes I DO "sweat the small stuff"!
Aug 20, 2019
Episdoe #28: Today's Hug - The Benefits of a Serving Spirit with Matt Upton
Aug 13, 2019
Episode #27: What are you afraid of: Your unique fears
Aug 06, 2019
Episode #26: Living with Fibromyalgia with Cindy Goff-Seratte
Jul 30, 2019
Episode #25: When Small Failures Elicit Gargantuan Emotions
Jul 23, 2019
Episode #24: A Guy at McDonald’s - Processing irritation at another person's behavior
Jul 09, 2019
Episode #23: How Can We Be OK When Everything Else Around Us Is Not OK?
Jul 02, 2019
Episode #22: Communicating Your Best Self with Meryl Runion
Jun 25, 2019
Episode #21: Life Lessons From Women in Prison
Jun 18, 2019
Episode #20: Living Your Beliefs: A lesson from suicide
Jun 11, 2019
Episode #19: Understanding PTSD.
Jun 04, 2019
Episode #18: Because We All Have to Be Perfect
May 27, 2019
Episode #17: Today's Hug - Moving On: A Posthumous Mother’s Day Card for My Mom
May 21, 2019
Episode #16: Today's Hug - Hello Fellow Worrywarts
May 14, 2019
Episode #15: Today's Hug - Overcoming Mental Health Stigma
Apr 29, 2019
Episode #14: Today's Hug - Escaping the Bondage of GUILT!
Apr 23, 2019
#13 Today's Hug - I LOVE the Smell of Tar: Using your senses wisely
Apr 16, 2019
#12: Today's Hug - Episode 12: Let's Talk About Anxiety
Apr 09, 2019
#11: Today's Hug - Episode 11: Confessions of a Time maniac, a possible OCD story
Apr 02, 2019
#10: Today's Hug - Chats With My Children Part 1, Turning Points
Mar 26, 2019
Podcast #9 - Today's Hug - Emotional situations, where do I even begin? Part 2
Mar 19, 2019
Episode #8: Today's Hug - Emotional situations, Where Do I Even Begin? (Part 1)
Mar 12, 2019
Episode #7: Today's Hug - Mommy & Me: Anger, Unforgiveness, Bitterness
Mar 05, 2019
#6: Today’s Hug - Beating Yourself Up After a Mistakes: How it really can help
Feb 26, 2019
#5: Today's Hug - Stubbed My Toe, Hated the World: The Superwoman Syndrome
Feb 19, 2019
#4 Today's Hug - Thoughts & Emotions: The chicken or the egg
Feb 12, 2019
Sneak Peak
Jan 30, 2019
#3: Today's Hug - Stress, the Black Hole of Words
Jan 30, 2019
#2: Today's Hug - I Call Myself Kind
Jan 30, 2019
#1 Today's Hug: Our Journeys
Jan 23, 2019