Anxiety is killing my ability to be a good dad

1w ago·1 min read

I've been dealing with anxiety for years but it got worse after my first kid was born. I worry constantly about everything. Health stuff, finances, whether I'm messing him up. It's exhausting and I can tell my wife is frustrated because I'm in my own head all the time instead of being present with the kids. I started therapy last month but wondering if other dads deal with this too or if I'm just broken somehow.

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Comments(5)

NNate B.Regular1w ago

Having anxiety and then becoming a dad is intense. The worry multiplies because now you're not just managing your own anxiety, you're terrified of passing it to your kid. Have you talked to a therapist about this specifically? I know it helped me separate my anxiety from my actual parenting ability.

MMarcusNew Dad1w ago

Man, I hear you. After my second kid I was a wreck with the worry spiral too. Therapy really helped me realize I was trying to control everything because of the anxiety, not because I was actually a bad dad. You're not broken for struggling with this.

DDavid R.New Dad1w ago

Four kids and I still deal with this stuff. The fact that you're aware of how anxiety is affecting you means you're already being a good dad. Getting help isn't weakness, it's exactly what good fathers do.

LLucasRegular1w ago

The constant worry after having a kid is rough. For me it was worse those first few months. Finding ways to calm your own nervous system will help more than anything else because your kid can sense when you're anxious.

JJasonNew Dad1w ago

This is real and I'm glad you're saying it out loud. A lot of guys won't admit that their mental health is affecting their parenting. Getting help isn't weakness, it's actually the strongest thing you can do for your family. Have you looked into any support options?