Anyone else dealing with anxiety about being a good enough dad

Jun 19·1 min read

I know logically I'm doing okay. My kids are healthy, we're stable, but I constantly think I'm screwing them up somehow. Every mistake feels huge. Every time I snap at them or miss a game or forget to pack their lunch I spiral thinking about how I'm damaging them. It's exhausting. Started therapy because my wife was concerned but even talking about it feels like I'm being weak. Does anyone else have intrusive thoughts about failing your kids that you can't turn off?

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Comments(4)

SScottRegularJun 21

The fact that you're even thinking about whether you're good enough means you probably are. The dads I'd worry about are the ones who don't care. That anxiety you're feeling? That's you caring about your kids. That matters way more than being perfect.

CChris T.RegularJun 19

I used to spiral on this exact thing. What helped me was realizing that my kids don't need a perfect dad, they need their dad. Present, trying, sometimes failing, but showing up. Once I let go of the perfection part the anxiety got a lot more manageable.

MMatt Sr New DadJun 20

We just need to be good enough! Not perfect

LLuke M.RegularJun 20

I deal with this constantly. Like I know on paper that my kids are fed, they're doing well in school, we have a stable home, but there's still that voice in my head saying I'm not doing enough or I'm messing something up. You're definitely not alone in this.