You crawl into bed exhausted, but your brain won’t stop spinning. The to-do list. The moment you wish you’d handled differently. The worry you can’t quite name. There’s a term for what you’re carrying: the mental load of motherhood, and you weren’t meant to carry it alone.

In this conversation, host Stacy Bellward sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist Heidi Mortenson to unpack what the mental load actually is, why it’s often rooted in lies rather than tasks, and how inviting Jesus into those quiet, exhausting spaces can change everything.

Heidi shares her personal journey of surrender and how the Holy Spirit transformed her marriage, her work, and her parenting. Whether it’s Mother’s Day, an ordinary Tuesday, or 11 pm and you can’t sleep, this episode is a warm encouragement for every mom carrying more than she was meant to carry.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

What the mental load of motherhood really is, and why it’s often lies, not just tasks
How thoughts fuel feelings and behaviors (and how the Holy Spirit breaks the cycle)
Why speaking God’s truth out loud actually builds new neural pathways
The Numbers 6 picture that changes how you see yourself as a mom
One question to ask when your brain won’t stop spinning

A moment we couldn’t stop thinking about:

“Jesus doesn’t just love you. He likes you.” Let that calm your soul, Mom.

Mentioned in this Podcast:

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Guest Bio:

Heidi Mortenson is a coach and consultant for businesses, leaders, and churches. Having built a mental health practice herself, she understands the ups and downs of balancing personal and business. She is the host of the Strong Tower Mental Health Podcast and the author of the book The Brave Encourager. She speaks on various topics such as identity, parenting, mental health, and leadership. She lives with her husband and three children in Minnesota, where they spend a lot of time at the hockey rink. You can find out more about Heidi at www.heidimortenson.com.