Anxiety about being a good enough dad

Feb 281 min read

I struggle with pretty bad anxiety and lately it's been focused on whether I'm being a good enough father. I keep replaying moments where I was short with my kids or didn't have patience and I spiral thinking I'm damaging them. Logically I know I'm being too hard on myself but the anxiety doesn't listen to logic. I snapped at my son yesterday over something stupid and now I'm up at 3am thinking about how he'll remember that moment forever. Has anyone dealt with anxiety like this? How do you manage it?

3 comments200 views

Comments(3)

PPhil B.RegularFeb 28

That replaying moments thing hits different when you're a parent. But honestly, the fact that you care this much about being good enough means you already are. I used to do the same thing until my wife pointed out I was way harder on myself than my kids ever were.

BBen M.RegularFeb 28

The anxiety spiral is real. With twins I learned pretty quick that perfect doesn't exist and honestly the kids care way less about those short moments than about showing up consistently. You're showing up, that's what matters.

TTom E.RegularFeb 28

Man, I get this. Some mornings I'm snappy before my coffee kicks in and then I feel like garbage about it all day. What helped me was just telling my kids I was having a rough moment and that I'm sorry, then moving on. They forgave me way faster than I forgave myself.