Let’s Get Real with Jena Burris
Welcome to Let’s Get Real, the podcast for women who feel like they’re holding it all together on the outside… but falling apart on the inside.
If you’re exhausted from pretending, overwhelmed by the pressure to be everything for everyone, or unsure who you even are anymore—you’re not alone. And you’re not crazy.
Let’s Get Real is where we have honest conversations about the struggles most people avoid—healing emotional wounds, losing yourself in motherhood, rebuilding your identity, and learning how to live whole again.
I’m Jena Burris—wife, mom, and your host. With a background in marriage and family therapy, life coaching, and years spent navigating life behind the scenes of the NFL and Hollywood, I’m passionate about creating a space where real conversations lead to real healing.
Each week, you’ll hear real stories, practical tools, and the reminder that freedom is closer than you think. Because I believe that in order to heal, we have to get real.
New episodes every Tuesday. Real talk. Real tools. Real healing.
For speaking inquiries, brand partnerships, or workshop opportunities, visit www.jenaburris.com or email jena@jenaburris.com.
Let’s Get Real with Jena Burris
Why Christian Moms Suffer in Silence After Birth With Emma Donaldson
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Free Resource for Moms
Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood?
You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way.
I created this FREE guide for you:
🎁 The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again
Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate.
👉 https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801
Episode 55: Why Christian Moms Suffer in Silence After Birth With Emma Donaldson
Postpartum is one of the most vulnerable seasons of a woman’s life — and yet for many Christian moms, it becomes a season of quiet suffering.
In this honest and compassionate conversation, I sit down with Emma Donaldson, licensed therapist and certified perinatal mental health specialist, to talk about the realities of postpartum anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, and the unique challenges Christian women face when faith language replaces emotional presence.
Emma shares her own story of postpartum anxiety — the constant checking, the intrusive fears, the overwhelming pressure to “do it right.” At the time, she didn’t even recognize it as anxiety. It felt normal. It felt like what motherhood was supposed to feel like.
But it wasn’t.
When Faith Becomes a Mask Instead of a Lifeline
One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is unpacking what happens inside Christian communities when moms speak up about their struggles.
Instead of being met with empathy, many women are met with Bible verses, spiritual platitudes, or subtle shame. While truth matters, Emma reminds us that timing and presence matter just as much. Scripture is not meant to silence pain — and encouragement should never bypass humanity.
We talk about how intrusive thoughts (including suicidal ideation), postpartum rage, and debilitating anxiety are more common than many realize — and how silence only deepens isolation.
Postpartum Is Not Just “Baby Blues”
Emma clearly explains the difference between baby blues and postpartum mood disorders. While hormonal shifts in the first two weeks are incredibly common, persistent symptoms, anger, hopelessness, sleep disruption, intrusive thoughts, emotional numbness, may signal postpartum depression or anxiety.
She also highlights two often-overlooked factors:
- The massive hormonal crash after birth
- The profound impact of sleep deprivation
Postpartum healing is not a one-size-fits-all fix. It’s layered. Biological. Emotional. Relational. Spiritual.
And healing often requires both professional support and real-life community.
You Were Never Meant to Mother Alone
One of the biggest turning points Emma sees in her clients isn’t just symptom reduction, it’s building a village.
Therapy is powerful, but it’s not a substitute for friendship. Moms need safe spaces where they can be honest in real time — without being fixed, judged, or spiritually bypassed.
Emma now leads an online support group called Known Motherhood, specifically designed for Christian postpartum women who want their faith honored but not weaponized against their humanity.
If you’re in the thick of postpartum and feel like you’re barely holding it together, this episode is for you.
You are not weak.
You are not faithless.
You are not alone.
Connect with Emma:
Website + Email List: joyfulmamamentalwellness.com
Support Group: Known Motherhood (join the waitlist on her website)
Instagram + TikTok: @joyfulmamamentalwellness
P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters, and I’m here for you.