A watercolor-style illustration of a young woman standing in falling snow, wearing only a short-sleeved T-shirt and shivering with her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her eyes are closed and her face is flushed, conveying discomfort from the cold. Overlaid on the image is the soft, feminine text: “Don’t just regulate emotions—layer your strategies.” The background features pastel hues of blue, lavender, and peach, creating a gentle, airy, and emotional atmosphere.

Feeling Overwhelmed? The Secret Power of Layering Emotional Strategies

Emotional layering isn’t about stacking emotions—it’s about layering strategies that help you manage them. In this post, I unpack five practical tools from James Gross’s emotion regulation model that help you respond to stress, overwhelm, or conflict with intention. Based on my 6-day social media series, this blog shows how to build support from the inside out. Plus, grab your cheatsheet free in the Resource Vault.

Jul 9, 20253 min read

A digital illustration of a woman sitting calmly on a stone bridge. On one side of the bridge is a stormy scene with dark clouds, wind, and rain; on the other side is a peaceful, sunny landscape with clear skies and gentle greenery. The image symbolizes the emotional shift from reactive to responsive thinking. The quote reads: "Reacting is automatic. Responding is power. Awareness is the bridge." – Tami West.

Reacting vs. Responding: Thought Tools That Build the Bridge

Stop spiraling thoughts with simple tools: pattern interrupts, reframes, and emotional resets for peace, not perfection.

Jul 2, 20254 min read

A motivational quote card with the text "Joy isn’t a personality trait—it’s a practice" in bold dark green font on a light beige background. To the right, a smiling woman with long brown hair walks outdoors on a sunlit path, wearing a green sweater and jeans. The scene evokes calm, warmth, and the peaceful practice of everyday joy.

🛠️ From Annoyed to Aware: Building Your Emotional Toolkit

This week I dove into some surprisingly simple but powerful mental health tools: the happiness formula, visualizing vs doing, naming my triggers, and even talking to myself in third person. If you’ve ever thought “Ugh, why am I so annoyed?”—you’re not alone. Let’s explore the difference between annoyances and triggers and build an emotional toolkit that helps us respond (not react). Don’t forget to grab your download from the resource vault!

Jun 25, 20253 min read

A split-screen digital graphic with two vertical halves. The left side has a teal background with the text "Mental Health Awareness Month" in white and "MAY" in bold yellow. The right side has a lavender background with the text "Mental Health Trivia Month" in white and "JUNE" in bold yellow. The design uses clean, modern typography to highlight the transition from awareness in May to trivia-focused engagement in June.

Mental Health Trivia Month: TikTok Highlights You Don’t Want to Miss!

After joining TikTok in May for Mental Health Awareness Month, I launched a daily Mental Health Trivia series for June. Each video delivers quick, research-backed insights on anxiety, mindset shifts, and emotional health. In this blog, I recap what you’ve missed, offer deeper takeaways, and preview upcoming trivia topics—plus free downloads and tools to support your mental well-being.

Jun 18, 20253 min read

woman with long dark hair, gray shirt, eyes closed looking relaxed over the words "the amygdala reacts. You respond. That's growth."

🎈“It’s Fine. Everything’s Fine.” — But Is It?

This month, we explored mental health through trivia, stories, and science—from balloon demos to Monica Geller and Tesla. If you’ve ever said “I’m fine” when you weren’t, this blog’s for you. Revisit my favorite lessons and grab free downloads from the Mental Health Resource Vault—panic tools, depression help, OCD facts, and more.

Jun 11, 20253 min read

sunset over a beach with gentle green/blue waves and quote You don't have to b eperfect to be loved. you just have to be real

From Awareness to Action: Mental Health Trivia Month Begins! 🧠

Mental Health Awareness Month may be over, but the conversation continues! Join me for June’s “I’m Fine. It’s Fine. Everything’s Fine.” Mental Health Trivia Month — a daily series blending fun, education, and real talk. Learn surprising facts (like when anxiety first appeared in the DSM), discover how celebs like Adele cope, and grab a free anxiety mini-guide at tamiwest.com/vault.

Jun 4, 20254 min read

brunette woman smiling with hand over heart and other hand raised orange shirt with text confidence, boundaries & apologies powerful tools for mental health

Week 4 Mental Health Recap: Confidence, Boundaries, & Apologies: 🌟

Discover how scent, support, sleep rituals, faith, and reframed fear can boost your wellbeing in this week-in-review post. Learn about the neuroscience of aromatherapy to elevate mood and reduce stress; explore the simple Notice→Ask→Listen Mental Health First Aid framework to support loved ones; adopt three restorative bedtime rituals for deeper sleep; find encouragement through faith-centered compassion; use a seven-step Fear-Fire Formula to turn anxiety into action. Mental

May 28, 20253 min read

woman in various states of relax blue and orange colors peaceful with the words mental health matters

This Week’s Mental Health Recap: Scents, Support, Sleep & Strength 🌿🧠💤🔥

May 21, 20253 min read

orange flowers and green leaves with a quote inside

🌿 Embracing Mental Health Awareness Month: A Journey of Self-Compassion and Growth

Explore how to transform mental health awareness into actionable steps this May. Discover strategies to break the comparison cycle and embrace self-care.

May 7, 20254 min read

A yellow pencil beside a seedling plant with the words"Lifelong learning isn't always pretty - but it's work it."

Lifelong Learning Isn’t Always Pretty — But It’s Worth It! ✏️🌱

In this honest, funny, and reflective post, I share what happened when I finally listened to Let Them by Mel Robbins — with a lot of judgment and a little traffic jam. From resistance to revelation, I explore what it means to learn from voices that challenge us, why tough love doesn't work for everyone, and how lifelong learning can be messy, emotional, and totally worth it.

Apr 30, 20254 min read

😅 ER, Vertigo & a "Banana" Catheter – Just Another Saturday 🚑

A dizzying ER visit, a banana-shaped catheter, and a whole lot of humility. One woman’s real (and funny) story about vertigo, vulnerability, and finding laughter after the storm.

Apr 16, 20253 min read