Last week we chatted about the emotions elicited by the recent Publix commercial about blended families. I still watch it the entire way through every time it comes on! Today, I'll share with you 7 tips from a recent article posted by the Gottman Institute. I'll throw in my successes and not successes and encourage those of you who are in these families that have their own unique challenges. Thanks for joining!
Show notes at https://www.tamiwest.com/post/seven-tips-for-blended-families.

Episode 145 Seven Tips for Blended Families

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 me 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 me:
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.

Health & Fitness

Welcome to May - Mental Health Awareness Month! Each week this month we'll dive into practices that will help you with your mental wellbeing. This week? Meditation with Dr. FF, as she is affectionately known. Show notes at https://www.tamiwest.com/post/mental-health-awareness-month-part-i-meditation.

Jennifer Fisch-Ferguson lives in Michigan where she does all the things writing. She is busy doing academic endeavors when she would rather be writing all about her characters and their many adventures. She spends her free time being a fabulous crazy mom to two dynamic boys and staff member to four highly demanding cats.

She also likes to cook and bake and subjects her family to her many creations (most of them good!). She is blessed to have friends who support her with her endeavors.

Jennifer enjoys writing urban fantasy, paranormal romance, speculative fiction and exploring all the questions starting “What if…” which allows her mind to make the mundane much more exciting. She is excitedly expanding her ever developing world and looks forward to the new adventures waiting to be written. She also had the joy of being a reviewer for AAMBC and reading some great new works of her fellow Indie authors.

Jennifer has had amazing experiences book signings and meeting her fans.
Jennifer has been teaching Composition, Genre writing, Creative writing, and Professional Writing at various colleges for last eight years. As well as facilitating a high energy writing group that explores peer editing and book coaching/ developmental editing on the side. With experience in teaching face to face, hybrid and online courses, she continues to push for more exciting ways to engage people in their writing.

Jennifer is completing her doctorate in which she looks are Digital Rhetoric and Professional Writing and practices of editing and publishing. She presents at conferences and enjoys speaking engagements.

Thanks for joining!

**Not intended to be therapy or replace therapy - If you need further help, please reach out to one of these resources or one in your area:

General Resources
National Alliance of Mental Illness: www.nami.org
Mental Health America: mhanational.org
Mental Health First Aid Resources: www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/
Celebrate Recovery: www.celebraterecovery.com/
About AA: www.aa.org/

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.

Hug 166 Mental Health Awareness Month Part I:  Meditation with Dr Jennifer Fisch-Ferguson

Last Wednesday I had 2 events on the same day (Listen to the full story.) While getting out of the car at my 2nd event, I fell and face-planted on the asphalt in the parking lot. The lesson that applies to our time today?

The event was a women’s workshop sponsored by the White House Area Chamber of Commerce. It’s in my hometown, so I know the leaders – 3 wonderful women! Tim was with me, and a few minutes after the fall (I still wasn’t off the ground yet!), two of them came outside, gently helped me up, walked with me, brought me a seat and ice pack, and stayed with me until I was ready to go compose myself.

WOMEN AND RELATIONSHIPS!! Such an important topic!

Let’s do the same format today for our last week of Stress Awareness Month. First, revisit the Stress in America Report. Second, look deeper at the research. Next, my successes and mistakes. And, finally, tips. Here we go! (All links in show notes at https://www.tamiwest.com/post/stress-awareness-month-part-4-women-relationships)

From Stress in America 2023 report (Link in first episode at ):
-Women were also more likely than men to cite family responsibilities (58% vs. 52%) and relationships (49% vs. 44%) as key stressors in their lives.

Then I wondered, how is this different from family responsibilities? So I looked at the questions asked in the survey. I searched for the word relationships.

Here’s what I found:
1.   What causes you stress: Relationships (e.g., spouse, kids, girl/boyfriend)
2.   How many people can you talk to about what’s happening in your life (e.g., stress, relationships, etc.)? Please provide your best estimate.

That’s all. The deeper dive here didn’t give me much. 

I also referenced what a few of the women in my study said about women (The Stress Club,  pp. 90-91)

Here’s a few (see show notes)

So I decided to make some inferences. If it’s not about family responsibility (housework, shopping, cooking, laundry, home maintenance, child-care, etc.), it might be issues in the relationships:

·      Communication
·      Worry
·      Conflict
·      Money
·      Blended families

And in those areas, I have done some things well, and others not so much:

Successes:

·      Scripting and PowerPhrases
·      Therapy
·      Allowing my grown children to be grown
·      Apologizing

Mistakes:
·      Excessive anger
·      Unrealistic expectations
·      Focusing too much on my needs
·      Incorrect assumptions

So let's get to the tips. I LOVED this article and, for the brief time we have together, I thought it was perfect: Six Tips for Building Health Relationships. Here are the 6, but please listen and read the article for more info!

1.     Learn about yourself
2.     Give the relationship time and energy
3.     Develop AND honor boundaries
4.     Talk and Listen with respect
5.     Let go of what you can’t control
6.     Take time to reflect and grow

Thanks for joining!

**Not intended to be therapy or replace therapy - If you need further help, please reach out to one of these resources or one in your area:

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 entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges.

Hug 165 Stress Awareness Month Part 4: Relationships

In today's episode, we'll explore the intricate relationship between women, at https://www.tamiwest.com/post/stress-awareness-month-part-iii-money. 

Personal Reflections on Money

Growing up with financial instability can leave a lasting impact. Here are some reflections on how a poor understanding of money can affect decisions and stress levels:
- My childhood in poverty taught me that money was something to be spent immediately.
- I witnessed a cycle of poverty when $50,000 was received and quickly dissipated on fast food, small trips, and material things.

Understanding Poverty
We'll delve into Dr. Ruby Payne's book, "A Framework for Understanding Poverty," which provides invaluable insights into the mindset shaped by economic struggles.

Stress and Finances: A Gendered Issue
- We revisit the "Stress in America Report" to discuss how, while finances are a top stressor, they often remain an undiscussed topic.
- Only 52% of adults are comfortable discussing money, and 45% feel embarrassed by it.
- Women, in particular, feel more consumed by financial worries than men, with a significant number stressing over essentials and unexpected expenses.

My Financial Journey
I'll share my personal financial highs and lows, hoping to offer both cautionary tales and strategies for success.

 Successes:
- Employment from the age of 16.
- Purchased a car independently at 17.
- Initiated a money market and IRA in my first marriage.
- Paid off debt using the envelope method as a single mom.
- Utilized government assistance during a transitional phase.

Mistakes:
- Financed unnecessary items in my first marriage.
- Financial crises
- Halted IRA contributions post-divorce.
- Did not save for my children's education.
- Allowed worry to prevent action.

Practical Tips to Minimize Financial Stress (From Women are Stressed About Money)

To conclude, we'll discuss three crucial steps you can take to reduce financial stress:

1. Save for emergencies to cushion against unforeseen expenses.
2. Save for retirement to secure your future.
3. Plan and think ahead, especially for significant life events.

Understanding and managing money is crucial, especially for women who may experience greater financial stress. Let's reflect on our relationship with money and take proactive steps to secure our financial well-being.

I hope this has been helpful today, and thank you for joining! As I've always asked in the past, please pass the show link along to your friends and subscribe, download, and review wherever you are listening. If you’re a woman and you haven’t joined our private FB group A Place for Women, please do that now! It’ll be your source of encouragement. I'd love for you to follow my Tami West Seminars Facebook page as well.  And until next time, Consider Yourself Hugged 

Hug 164 Stress Awareness Month Part III: Money!

Recently I listened to a stress management podcast. I really liked her style and her content. It was odd, but there was one thing she said that struck me as she spoke about journaling: When we put our worries onto paper, it moves them from the emotions center to the thinking center. And then she moved on.

I thought, "I’ve given advice like that before. And moved on."

What I found myself wanting was examples. Stories. What did it look like when YOU did that? What worked? What didn’t?

That’s what we’re doing today.

First, I dug into that Stress in America report we discussed last week (click here to listen to that episode). I thought what do people need? What are they struggling with?  As you may expect, the numbers were worse for women than for men, so I decided to go that direction for the next 3 weeks. Even though I’m targeting women  here, the stories and advice transcend gender in many areas.

Next I looked at the top I for women, according to the report. They were:

58% family responsibilities
50% consumed by worries regarding money
49% relationships

So that’s where we’re going. Today, we’ll talk about family. Next week money. The final week, relationships

Next, I did some specific research and have 4 recent studies to share with you (Link and info in show notes at https://www.tamiwest.com/post/stress-awareness-month-part-ii-family-responsibilities)

So women want/need help!  But what experience do I have to talk to you about family responsibilities? Here's a bit of my background:

·      3 biological children born 1988-1992
·      Had my 1st son when my 1st husband was in the military. We were in Wichita, KS with no support whatsoever and my son was a very colicky baby.
·      I was in a psychiatric hospital when they were 2,4,6
·      Single mom of those 3 from 1998-2003
·      Got my master’s degree during that time
·      Gained 5 stepchildren in 2003
·      Traveled while 5 of the 8 still lived at home
·      Took care of my mentally ill mother with dementia while traveling
·      Cared for my father with Alzheimer’s

Did I do a great job during these seasons? Let's evaluate 

Hug 163 Stress Awareness Month Part II: Family Responsibilities

How embarrassing that I had no idea April is National Stress Awareness Month. Of course, I’m not a fan of the word, but I am a fan of helping people deal with this concept we call stress.

I was walking Charlies this morning, thinking Oh I’ll just do 4 sessions about stress, that’s what I do, that’ll be easy! But it wasn’t. I’ve been speaking about stress for about 20 years, and today I felt a real burden to try a different approach.

Today, Part I, isn’t about giving advice. Instead, it truly is about developing awareness and finding out where you are in your life. As I read the 2023 Stress in America report, this passage broke my hear:

Around three in five adults (61%) said people around them just expect them to get over their stress. Nearly half (47%) said they wish they had someone to help them manage their stress. Some adults (36%) said they don’t know where to start when it comes to managing their stress, and a third (33%) said they feel completely stressed out no matter what they do to manage their stress. In fact, two-thirds of adults (66%) said that, in the last 12 months, they could have used more emotional support than they received, and around a quarter (26%) cited the need for a lot more support. More than two in five adults (44%) said they don’t feel anyone understands what they are going through, and more than half (52%) said they wish they had someone to turn to for advice and/or support.

People feel lonely. Misunderstood. Helpless. Lost.

So today isn’t bullet points or 3 steps or any other step-by-step formula. It’s about me sharing my heart and, hopefully, you opening yours! Take a listen and let me know how I can help you! 

All links in show notes at https://www.tamiwest.com/post/stress-awareness-part-i-developing-awareness.

Thanks for joining!

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

General Resources National Alliance of Mental Illness: www.nami.org
Mental Health America: mhanational.org
Mental Health First Aid Resources: www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/
Celebrate Recovery: www.celebraterecovery.com/
About AA: www.aa.org/

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.

Connect with me:
www.tamiwest.com/
facebook.com/tamiwestseminars
www.linkedin.com/in/tamiwest/
tamiwest@tamiwest.com

Episode 145 Seven Tips for Blended Families

Download our free app to listen on your phone