Im the main breadwinner for my family and the anxiety about providing is literally constant. Im doing fine, my job is stable, but my brain always goes to worst case scenarios. What if I lose my job, what if Im not making enough, what if I fail them. I know this isnt rational but I cant turn it off. Started having panic attacks at work last month. Anyone else deal with this provider anxiety?
I get it man, I've got four kids and that feeling never really goes away. But real talk - the fact that you're stable and still worried means you care, not that something's wrong. That anxiety is just part of the job.
Been there with the constant mental math about bills and college funds. Something that helped me was separating 'stable job' from 'I'm failing' - they're not the same thing even though the brain wants them to be.
This hits different as a new dad. The anxiety about providing is real, but you're already doing it. Sometimes just saying that out loud helps more than it should.
The constant pressure to provide is real and honestly kind of isolating because you can't really complain without sounding ungrateful. But man, you're doing the work and that matters.
This hits different when you have multiple kids depending on you. I've been learning that I can't control everything and that's okay. Easier said than done though.
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I feel this so deeply. Being the main breadwinner is a weight that doesn't really go away, even when things are stable. Have you thought about talking to a therapist about it? Helped me realize a lot of my anxiety was about control, not actual financial problems.