Forums Dad Mental HealthDepression hit different after becoming a dad

Depression hit different after becoming a dad

2w ago·1 min read

I've dealt with depression on and off for years but it's way different now that I have kids. It's not the sad feeling necessarily, it's more like everything feels pointless and I'm just going through motions. Taking care of the kids, going to work, coming home. Rinse and repeat. My wife says I seem checked out and she's right. I know I need help but admitting that to her feels like I'm failing at being a dad. Anyone been through something similar? How did you come out of it?

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Comments(3)

DDavidNew Dad2w ago

That shift from depression being about your own feelings to it being about how you show up for your kids is real and it's tough. You're describing something important though, so reaching out like you're doing here is a good start.

LLucasNew Dad2w ago

Depression hitting different as a dad makes sense because now there's another layer to it. It's not just about you anymore and that can actually make it feel heavier. Have you talked to your doctor about how fatherhood has changed how your depression shows up?

RRick J.Regular2w ago

I hear you on this. Depression shows up different when you're responsible for tiny humans, doesn't it? It's less about sadness and more about that heavy weight or disconnection. I'm only a few months into this dad thing but I'm starting to understand what you mean.

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