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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 tools that boost your clarity, energy, and confidence.

Cultivate calm and joy through practical, affordable coping skills that help you handle life’s daily challenges.

Join MJ Murray Vachon, LCSW, a seasoned therapist with over 50,000 hours of clinical experience and 32 years teaching mental wellness, as she guides you to reclaim your inner calm. Learn to stay grounded in the present, navigate midlife transitions with clarity, and build emotional resilience using proven coping tools.

Every Monday, MJ dives into real stories and science-backed insights to help you shift from anxious to centered—ending each episode with an “Inner Challenge” you can practice right away. Then, on Thursdays, she shares a brief follow-up episode that connects, deepens, or expands the week’s topic, helping you apply these skills in real life.

Let’s evolve from crisis to calm—and make midlife your most balanced and fulfilling chapter yet.
🎧 Start with listener favorite Ep. 138 to feel the difference calm can make.

Copyright: © 2024 Inner Challenge Podcast with MJ Murray Vachon LCSW

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 206 Death Isn’t Creepy: How Reflecting on Mortality Calms Midlife Anxiety & Stress Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

Why does reflecting on death feel so uncomfortable, yet hold surprising value for our mental wellness?
You’re not alone if the thought makes you uneasy.
In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why most of us avoid thoughts of mortality—and the hidden costs of that avoidance.
How reflecting on death, even briefly, can shift daily stress and anxiety.
What hospice work and mindfulness practices reveal about living with greater calm and clarity.

Take 20 minutes to see how reflecting on death can free you to live more fully—you’re worth it.

Send us Fan Mail

****

About the Host:

MJ Murray Vachon, LCSW, is a seasoned clinician, educator, and host of the podcast Creating Midlife Calm, recognized by Maria Shriver as a “Listen of the Week.” Over the past 40 years, MJ has led more than 50,000 therapy sessions and developed the Inner Challenge mental wellness program and the Inner Challenge Master Class, practical tools for emotional regulation, self-awareness, and resilience taught for more than 30 years in junior high schools and at the University of Notre Dame for freshman football players. Through her podcast, teaching, and coaching, MJ helps people build calmer lives, stronger relationships, and healthier communities.

Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.

Ep. 205 Surprising Coping Skills You Can Learn From Toddlers To Dissolve Anxiety and Stress In Midlife Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

What if the surprising key to dissolving midlife anxiety and stress comes from the way toddlers move through the world?
You’re not alone if stress and anxiety in midlife make calm feel out of reach.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
1. Why eliminating outside stressors rarely creates lasting calm
2. How toddlers teach powerful lessons about coping with midlife anxiety and stress
3. Right-brain practices that reconnect you to the calm already inside of you
Take 12 minutes to unlock calm from the inside out and ease midlife anxiety and stress—you’re worth it

Send us Fan Mail

****

About the Host:

MJ Murray Vachon, LCSW, is a seasoned clinician, educator, and host of the podcast Creating Midlife Calm, recognized by Maria Shriver as a “Listen of the Week.” Over the past 40 years, MJ has led more than 50,000 therapy sessions and developed the Inner Challenge mental wellness program and the Inner Challenge Master Class, practical tools for emotional regulation, self-awareness, and resilience taught for more than 30 years in junior high schools and at the University of Notre Dame for freshman football players. Through her podcast, teaching, and coaching, MJ helps people build calmer lives, stronger relationships, and healthier communities.

Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.

Ep. 204 Feeling Anxious and Stressed? Your Best Midlife Coping Skill Is Already Inside You Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

What if your calm hasn’t disappeared — you’ve just stopped practicing how to return to it?
Stress and anxiety in midlife don’t require more control — they require better connection with what’s already inside you.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
1. How to reconnect with natural calm using everyday moments
2. Why giving anxiety too much attention increases suffering
3. Simple coping skills to reset your nervous system in real time
Take 10 minutes to listen and begin practicing calm, not chasing it.

Send us Fan Mail

****

About the Host:

MJ Murray Vachon, LCSW, is a seasoned clinician, educator, and host of the podcast Creating Midlife Calm, recognized by Maria Shriver as a “Listen of the Week.” Over the past 40 years, MJ has led more than 50,000 therapy sessions and developed the Inner Challenge mental wellness program and the Inner Challenge Master Class, practical tools for emotional regulation, self-awareness, and resilience taught for more than 30 years in junior high schools and at the University of Notre Dame for freshman football players. Through her podcast, teaching, and coaching, MJ helps people build calmer lives, stronger relationships, and healthier communities.

Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.

Ep. 203 — Why "Pushing Through" Midlife Anxiety Backfires and Coping Skills To Regain Energy & Calm Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

Do you pride yourself on powering through—but secretly feel drained and resentful?
Pushing through anxiety and stress feels like the only option in midlife, but the truth is it often backfires.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
1. Why pushing through actually keeps the stress cycle open and makes anxiety worse
2. The hidden costs of the “push-through mode” in midlife
3. How to use RESET coping skills to calm anxiety, conserve energy, and reconnect with what matters
Take 13 minutes to stop burning out and start building calm—you’re worth it.

Send us Fan Mail

****

About the Host:

MJ Murray Vachon, LCSW, is a seasoned clinician, educator, and host of the podcast Creating Midlife Calm, recognized by Maria Shriver as a “Listen of the Week.” Over the past 40 years, MJ has led more than 50,000 therapy sessions and developed the Inner Challenge mental wellness program and the Inner Challenge Master Class, practical tools for emotional regulation, self-awareness, and resilience taught for more than 30 years in junior high schools and at the University of Notre Dame for freshman football players. Through her podcast, teaching, and coaching, MJ helps people build calmer lives, stronger relationships, and healthier communities.

Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.

Ep. 202 Top Coping Skills to Instantly Stop Bad Days in Their Tracks—And Reduce Midlife Anxiety & Stress Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever had one of those days where the tiniest thing sets you off—like your partner’s chewing suddenly drives you nuts? That’s the science of a bad day at work in your brain and body.
You don’t have to let one bad moment spiral into a bad day, or worse, a bad week.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
1. Why midlife stress and anxiety are wired into your brain and body
2. How to use the RESET coping skill
3. How to build your own reset ritual so you can stop anxiety and stress from stealing your energy in midlife.
Take 12 minutes to reset your mind and reclaim your calm—you’re worth it.

The Good Life & The Abundant Life

Free workshop Monday October 13, 7-8pm EST.

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Send us Fan Mail

****

About the Host:

MJ Murray Vachon, LCSW, is a seasoned clinician, educator, and host of the podcast Creating Midlife Calm, recognized by Maria Shriver as a “Listen of the Week.” Over the past 40 years, MJ has led more than 50,000 therapy sessions and developed the Inner Challenge mental wellness program and the Inner Challenge Master Class, practical tools for emotional regulation, self-awareness, and resilience taught for more than 30 years in junior high schools and at the University of Notre Dame for freshman football players. Through her podcast, teaching, and coaching, MJ helps people build calmer lives, stronger relationships, and healthier communities.

Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.

Ep. 201 How Taylor Swift’s “Life of a Showgirl” Interview Can Help Midlife Listeners Cope with Holiday Stress, Anxiety & Chaos Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

Can Taylor Swift’s approach to calm help you manage midlife stress and anxiety this holiday season? (OMG, is she really talking about holidays???)
You’re not alone — even the most grounded people feel the pull of pressure and expectation this time of year.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
1. How Taylor Swift’s choice to protect her peace can inspire your own midlife coping skills.
2. Why setting intentions now helps reduce stress, anxiety, and overwhelm later in the season.
3. Simple, science-backed ways to trade pressure for presence and design the calm you crave.
Take 8 minutes to shift from holiday stress to midlife calm — you’re worth it.

Send us Fan Mail

****

About the Host:

MJ Murray Vachon, LCSW, is a seasoned clinician, educator, and host of the podcast Creating Midlife Calm, recognized by Maria Shriver as a “Listen of the Week.” Over the past 40 years, MJ has led more than 50,000 therapy sessions and developed the Inner Challenge mental wellness program and the Inner Challenge Master Class, practical tools for emotional regulation, self-awareness, and resilience taught for more than 30 years in junior high schools and at the University of Notre Dame for freshman football players. Through her podcast, teaching, and coaching, MJ helps people build calmer lives, stronger relationships, and healthier communities.

Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.

Ep. 200 The Surprising Coping Skill Taylor Swift Reveals in Her “Life of a Showgirl” Interview To Ease Midlife Stress & Anxiety Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

What if one of the world’s most famous women just shared the secret to reducing anxiety in midlife?

You’re not alone if endless scrolling leaves you feeling drained, distracted, and anxious.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

The conscious choices Taylor Swift makes to protect her peace and reduce stress.
How attention, not time, may be your most valuable coping skill in midlife.
Why less scrolling and more creativity can transform anxiety into calm.

🎧 Take 9 minutes to reclaim your calm and refocus your attention—you’re worth it.

Send us Fan Mail

****

About the Host:

MJ Murray Vachon, LCSW, is a seasoned clinician, educator, and host of the podcast Creating Midlife Calm, recognized by Maria Shriver as a “Listen of the Week.” Over the past 40 years, MJ has led more than 50,000 therapy sessions and developed the Inner Challenge mental wellness program and the Inner Challenge Master Class, practical tools for emotional regulation, self-awareness, and resilience taught for more than 30 years in junior high schools and at the University of Notre Dame for freshman football players. Through her podcast, teaching, and coaching, MJ helps people build calmer lives, stronger relationships, and healthier communities.

Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.

Ep. 199 How to Banish Your Inner Critic in Midlife and Move From Anxiety and Stress to Calm and Self-Trust Oct 02, 2025

Show notes

Why does your inner critic keep pushing you harder even when you already know how to get things done in midlife?
Your inner critic often hides behind “truth,” “motivation,” or “standards.”
In this episode, you’ll discover:
1. Why tracing the roots of your inner critic matter and how giving it a midlife update can free you to trust yourself and enjoy your life
2. How self-criticism wires your body for stress and anxiety—and what you can do to shift into calm
3. A simple, science-backed coping skill that helps you move from judgment to gratitude, confidence, and self-trust

Take 11 minutes to rewire your inner critic, ease anxiety, and increase calm in midlife—you’re worth it.

Send us Fan Mail

****

About the Host:

MJ Murray Vachon, LCSW, is a seasoned clinician, educator, and host of the podcast Creating Midlife Calm, recognized by Maria Shriver as a “Listen of the Week.” Over the past 40 years, MJ has led more than 50,000 therapy sessions and developed the Inner Challenge mental wellness program and the Inner Challenge Master Class, practical tools for emotional regulation, self-awareness, and resilience taught for more than 30 years in junior high schools and at the University of Notre Dame for freshman football players. Through her podcast, teaching, and coaching, MJ helps people build calmer lives, stronger relationships, and healthier communities.

Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.

Ep. 198 The Surprising Science Backed Coping Skill That Will Silence Your Inner Critic, Ease Midlife Anxiety & Calm Stress Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

Why do your efforts to silence your inner critic never seem to last?
You’re not alone—midlife anxiety and stress often thrive when criticism becomes a daily habit.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
1. Why calming your outer critic is the real key to quieting your inner critic
2. How midlife stress, anxiety, and overthinking are fueled by cultural patterns of criticism
3. The surprising science of what criticism does to your body—and the coping skill that rewires your brain in real time
Take 11 minutes to silence your critic, ease midlife anxiety, and lower stress—you’re worth it.

Send us Fan Mail

****

About the Host:

MJ Murray Vachon, LCSW, is a seasoned clinician, educator, and host of the podcast Creating Midlife Calm, recognized by Maria Shriver as a “Listen of the Week.” Over the past 40 years, MJ has led more than 50,000 therapy sessions and developed the Inner Challenge mental wellness program and the Inner Challenge Master Class, practical tools for emotional regulation, self-awareness, and resilience taught for more than 30 years in junior high schools and at the University of Notre Dame for freshman football players. Through her podcast, teaching, and coaching, MJ helps people build calmer lives, stronger relationships, and healthier communities.

Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.

Ep. 197 Mel Robbins Says It Takes 200 Hours—Here’s Why Fifteen Seconds Can Ease Midlife Loneliness, Calm Anxiety, and Reduce Stress Sep 25, 2025

Show notes

Can fifteen brave seconds really be enough to move you out of loneliness in midlife?

You’re not alone—many people feel stuck in midlife loneliness while also battling anxiety and stress.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why Mel Robbins’ 200-hour friendship rule doesn’t capture the reality of connection in midlife
How self-knowledge and social intelligence can make friendship easier and quicker to build
Why anxiety—not time—is the real barrier, and how just fifteen seconds of bravery can help you break free from loneliness

🎧 Take 10 minutes to see how one brave choice can ease midlife loneliness, calm anxiety, and reduce stress—you’re worth it.

Send us Fan Mail

****

About the Host:

MJ Murray Vachon, LCSW, is a seasoned clinician, educator, and host of the podcast Creating Midlife Calm, recognized by Maria Shriver as a “Listen of the Week.” Over the past 40 years, MJ has led more than 50,000 therapy sessions and developed the Inner Challenge mental wellness program and the Inner Challenge Master Class, practical tools for emotional regulation, self-awareness, and resilience taught for more than 30 years in junior high schools and at the University of Notre Dame for freshman football players. Through her podcast, teaching, and coaching, MJ helps people build calmer lives, stronger relationships, and healthier communities.

Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.

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