Home Podcasts Self-Care for Mental Health | Recovery, Anxious, Sadness, Bipolar, Emotions, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Self-Esteem
Self-Care for Mental Health | Recovery, Anxious, Sadness, Bipolar, Emotions, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Self-Esteem

Self-Care for Mental Health | Recovery, Anxious, Sadness, Bipolar, Emotions, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Self-Esteem

Amy McVay - Peer Support Specialist, Wellness Recovery Coach 55 Episodes Dec 13, 2025

A supportive podcast hosted by certified peer specialist Amy McVay, offering a safe space for honest conversations about mental health and wellness. Episodes focus on self-care, recovery from anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and other emotional challenges, with an emphasis on connection and community. The show aims to help listeners break cycles of shame and isolation, and to prioritize their own healing. Amy shares personal experience and practical encouragement to help others feel less alone in their struggles.

Episodes

53 |  Show Up for Yourself This Holiday Season: Create Your Own Self-Care Action Plan (Part 2)
53 | Show Up for Yourself This Holiday Season: Create Your Own Self-Care Action Plan (Part 2) Dec 13, 2025 1225 Practical self-care steps to reduce seasonal overwhelm and support mental wellness. In Part 2 of this two-part series, Amy gently guides you through the final 2 steps of creating your own Self-Care Action Plan for the holidays. 🌿 You’ll learn how to: 🫶 identify your support people 🫶 name how they can support you 🫶 set weekly intentions to meet your CARE goal 🫶 feel like your true self this sea
52 |  Show Up for Yourself This Holiday Season: Create Your Own Self-Care Action Plan (Part I)
52 | Show Up for Yourself This Holiday Season: Create Your Own Self-Care Action Plan (Part I) Nov 27, 2025 932 Practical self-care steps to reduce anxiety and support emotional wellness. In Part I of this two-part series, Amy gently guides you through the first steps of creating your own Self-Care Action Plan for the holidays. 🌿 You’ll learn how to: 🫶 gently check in with yourself 🫶 understand your emotional and mental starting point 🫶 set one supportive CARE goal 🫶 feel grounded and intentional this s
51 | Stigma Surrounding Bipolar Disorder and the Importance of Seeking Professional Help- with Mental Health Advocate, Jonathan Kemp
51 | Stigma Surrounding Bipolar Disorder and the Importance of Seeking Professional Help- with Mental Health Advocate, Jonathan Kemp Oct 10, 2025 2992 Hi friend 🫶 Have you ever felt resistant to seeking professional help for your mental health or that it’s too late? My guest today, Jonathan Kemp, is a mental health advocate, entrepreneur, and creator of SmartWisdom- a scientifically validated note-taking technique. He was born into privilege as the future 3rd Viscount of Rochdale. He knew something wasn’t right since he was about 7 years old and
50 | Back to Self-Care Quick Tips: Dancing to Release Stress
50 | Back to Self-Care Quick Tips: Dancing to Release Stress Oct 1, 2025 486 🎶 Back to Self-Care Quick Tips: Dancing to Release Stress Movement can be medicine. In this playful episode, I share how dancing helps release stress, reconnects us to joy, and even brings us back to our younger selves. Together, we’ll talk about: Why movement is a powerful way to release stuck energy My story of remembering how dance helps me move through anxiety and stress Simple ways to br
49 | Back to Self-Care Quick Tips: Cocooning for Rest
49 | Back to Self-Care Quick Tips: Cocooning for Rest Sep 25, 2025 398 🪺 Back to Self-Care Quick Tips: Cocooning for Rest Sometimes the most powerful form of self-care is retreat. In this episode, I share how cocooning—creating a safe, cozy space to rest—helped me move through exhaustion this summer. Together, we’ll talk about: How cocooning calms the nervous system and restores balance My personal story of reaching burnout, unplugging, and recovering after rest
48 | Back to Self-Care Quick Tips: Conscious Breathing
48 | Back to Self-Care Quick Tips: Conscious Breathing Sep 17, 2025 454 🌬 Back to Self-Care Quick Tips: Conscious Breathing  Your breath is always with you—and it can be your reset button. In this calming episode, I share how conscious breathing can help reduce anxiety and bring us back into balance.  Together, we’ll talk about: Why stress shortens the breath and keeps us stuck in fight-or-flight My experience with waking up anxious and using deep breathing to calm
47 |  Back To Self-Care Quick Tips: Watering Our Mental Health
47 | Back To Self-Care Quick Tips: Watering Our Mental Health Sep 12, 2025 397 💧 Back to Self-Care Quick Tips: Watering Our Mental Health Sometimes self-care is as simple as a sip of water. In this short and gentle episode, I share how hydration affects our mental health and a personal reminder I had this summer about how easy it is to forget our own needs. Together, we’ll talk about: Why water matters for clarity, calm, and emotional steadiness A personal story of learn
46 | Your Big Emotions Are Not the Enemy- Take This Baby Step to Silence Stigma
46 | Your Big Emotions Are Not the Enemy- Take This Baby Step to Silence Stigma Aug 6, 2025 1842 Hi friend 🫶 Are your big emotions overwhelming you? I used to live in fear of my big feelings and where they would take me until I realized they weren’t there to hurt me but to inform me that I needed to take action to care for myself in some way. In today’s episode I will be sharing who the real enemy is when it comes to caring for ourselves where we need to be. *Spoiler- it’s not our emotions. 
45 | Summer Expectations Making You Irritable? How Prioritizing Time to Care for Yourself is Your Way to Peace
45 | Summer Expectations Making You Irritable? How Prioritizing Time to Care for Yourself is Your Way to Peace Jul 26, 2025 616 Hi friend 🫶 Are you carrying heavy expectations that are making you feel irritable this Summer? Welcome to Self-Care for Mental Health 🌊 I'm so glad you are here! 🫶 As a recovering perfectionist with chronic high expectations, I’ve found myself carrying unnecessary weights into new seasons of my life. I’ve learned that when I am feeling irritable, it’s a sign to check in with myself. In today’s e
44 | When Anxiety is Knocking at Your Door - Try This Simple Self-Care Practice to Regulate Your Emotions
44 | When Anxiety is Knocking at Your Door - Try This Simple Self-Care Practice to Regulate Your Emotions Jul 15, 2025 984 Welcome to Self-Care for Mental Health 🌊 I'm so glad you are here! 🫶 Hi friend, Feeling anxious? 🫤 You are not alone. Anxiety can be a very debilitating feeling and so often in the moment we just don’t know what to do with ourselves. Is there something we can do when we are feeling this emotion instead of letting it take the keys and drive our day?? The answer is YES! This nervous/anxious energy i
43 | Overwhelmed By Your Emotions?- 3 Actions Steps To Choose Courage Over Fear When It Comes To Practicing Self-Care
43 | Overwhelmed By Your Emotions?- 3 Actions Steps To Choose Courage Over Fear When It Comes To Practicing Self-Care Jul 3, 2025 1508 Welcome to Self-Care for Mental Health 🌊 I'm so glad you are here! 🫶 Hi friend, Have you been experiencing overwhelming emotions lately that feel like a tidal wave coming to wipe you out? I see you. I know right where you are. 🛟 I used to live in fear of my emotions like they were the enemy, instead of embracing them as my friend. They were never surfacing to destroy me, instead they were serving
42 | “Are You OK?”- Spring, Suicide Awareness, & the Importance of Checking In
42 | “Are You OK?”- Spring, Suicide Awareness, & the Importance of Checking In Jun 18, 2025 1757 Welcome to Self-Care for Mental Health 🌊 I'm so glad you are here! 🫶 *Disclaimer: There is mention of suicide in this episode. Please take precautions while listening and seek out support if needed. Hi friend, Do you find yourself dreading the “How are you” question? 🙋🏻‍♀️ For me it can often feel like there is pressure and an expectation to say “I’m good” or “I’m fine”, even though that may not b

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