Anxiety spiraling over my kids' future

3w ago·1 min read

I don't even know where to start. Lately I've been having these panic attacks where I convince myself something bad is going to happen to my kids. Like I'll be at work and suddenly think about car accidents or illness and my heart just races. I know logically that I'm catastrophizing but it feels so real in the moment. My wife says I need to talk to someone about this but I keep putting it off. Anyone else dealing with this kind of anxiety as a dad?

5 comments118 views

Comments(5)

TTom E.Regular3w ago

I'm dealing with the same thing with my 4-month-old, brother. Every little sound he makes at night sends my brain into worst-case scenarios. You're not alone in this and reaching out is the right move.

LLance K.Regular3w ago

Man, I get this. Between my two kids' sports schedules I'm constantly worried something's gonna go wrong at a game or practice. Therapy might actually help you work through where this is coming from instead of just white-knuckling through it.

LLance K.Regular3w ago

I get into these spirals too man. All the what ifs and catastrophizing. One thing that helps me is remembering that my kids have me in their corner. That's actually a huge advantage for their future right there.

BBenNew Dad3w ago

The anxiety around their future is so real once you become a parent. All those worst case scenarios play on repeat. Honestly therapy has been helping me break that cycle. Might be worth exploring if you haven't already.

DDannyRegular3w ago

Panic attacks about their future are real and they're tough to manage. The fact that you're aware of it happening is actually the first step. Have you talked to anyone professional about this or just trying to white knuckle through it?