𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝘀 "[𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗞𝗶𝗱’𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲]’𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗺" 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲? Or felt like your only purpose is to keep tiny humans alive while running on fumes and stale Goldfish crackers? (Just us? Cool.)

This week on 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗸 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘀, 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗼, and 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻 unpack the ways stress messes with our identity as moms. When we get tangled up in labels—"special needs mom," "wife," "caregiver"—we forget who we really are in Christ. And that’s when the enemy sneaks in, fueling stress, self-doubt, and the feeling that we’re never enough.

𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲, 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴:
⚡ The weight of parental labels and how they shape our self-worth
⚡ How stress fuels insecurity, self-doubt, and passive aggression (yep, we’re going there)
⚡ Why self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s a biblical necessity
⚡ The power of renewing your mind daily and shutting down the lies of the enemy
⚡ How to rest in your true identity instead of striving to be “better”

𝗦𝗼 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻, 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗼𝗿 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿, "𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵," 𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲.

🎧 New episodes every Wednesday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music iHeart Radio, and YouTube!

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✨ Episode 5: When Stress Tips the Scale: The Hidden Weight of Extreme Parenting ✨

Special needs moms and moms navigating extreme parenting often carry a weight much heavier than meets the eye—both physically and emotionally. Chronic stress wreaks havoc on hormone levels, leading to health challenges like weight gain, fatigue, and even shame about self-image. This cycle can feel relentless, and the judgment from others doesn’t help. People assume it’s about overeating or inactivity, but let’s be real—when you’re juggling therapy appointments, meltdowns, and midnight laundry loads, who has time for self-care?

Tune in as Deena and Christina get raw and real about their personal struggles with weight, self-image, and the deep emotional pain chronic stress can cause. You’ll hear how extreme parenting impacts their health and what they’ve learned about breaking free from the shame and stereotypes.

🎧 Whether you’re crying into your cold coffee or chasing your kid through the grocery store, this episode is for you. We hope our stories remind you that you’re not alone and that your worth isn’t tied to your dress size.

💡 Stress Fact: Chronic stress increases cortisol levels, which can lead to increased fat storage, especially in the abdominal area. Add poor sleep and no time for nourishing meals, and it’s no wonder your body struggles to keep up.

💡 Another Fact: Studies show that stress can shrink the prefrontal cortex, the part of your brain responsible for making decisions—like, "Should I grab a salad or this bag of chocolate-covered pretzels?”

💬 We want to hear from you! Take a moment to listen, follow, and share this episode with a mama who could use some encouragement.

👉Leave us a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen—your feedback helps us support more moms just like you.

🎙️ Find us everywhere you stream: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and YouTube.

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#StressAndWeight #MomEncouragement #HealingThroughFaith #RealMomTalk #OverwhelmedNotAlone #FaithOverStress #SelfImageStruggles #MomLifeSupport
#StressHormonesHealth

Stress—it’s like that extra sock in the laundry. It sneaks in where it doesn’t belong, and before you know it, you’re buried in it. For moms navigating extreme parenting, whether it’s a rough season or a lifetime of challenges, stress isn’t just part of the equation—it’s the headline.

In this episode of Junk Drawer Mamas, Deena and Christina get real about the types of stress moms face, the ways it impacts our hearts, minds, and bodies, and how we can rise above it. From personal stories of juggling chaos to practical tips that actually work, we’re spilling all the tea on managing stress without losing your mind—or your faith.

Here’s the truth, Mama: You’re not meant to do this alone. God’s got you, and so do we. Tune in as we share how leaning into His strength can turn even the messiest, most stressful days into moments of peace and purpose.

Why You Should Listen:

• Get practical, faith-filled strategies to tackle stress head-on.
• Laugh (because if we didn’t laugh, we’d cry) at our honest and relatable mom-life stories.
• Walk away with encouragement and a reminder that you’re never alone in this journey.

✨ Share the love:

• 🎧 Listen now for relatable wisdom and encouragement.
• 💬 Tag a mom who needs this message today—we’re all in this together.
• ❤️ Don’t forget to like, follow, and share with someone who needs a little extra hope.

#JunkDrawerMamas #MomLife #StressReliefForMoms #ExtremeParenting #FaithInTheChaos #ChristianMoms #ParentingSupport #MomLifeRealTalk #EncouragedMoms