Before kids I could kind of manage my depression by just isolating for a few days. Now I can't do that. I still have to show up, make lunches, help with homework, be present. Some days I feel like I'm running on fumes. I love my kids but I'm not gonna lie, the responsibility feels crushing sometimes. Trying to get back into therapy but the waiting lists are insane.
Man, this is real. I had the same thing happen to me. When it was just me, I could take a mental health day and just shut down. Now I've got my son depending on me and I can't just check out. What's helped me is being honest with my wife about when I'm struggling. She'll take the kiddo for a couple hours so I can at least have some space to breathe. You don't have to do it all alone.
You're not alone in this. The isolation thing is tough because as a dad you're supposed to just power through, right? Wrong. I started being more open with my wife about my bad days instead of shutting down, and honestly it helped both of us. The kids pick up on your energy anyway.
Sign in to join the conversation.
This hits hard. I work nights at the hospital and days with the kids, so my usual coping strategies never really worked anyway. But yeah, parenting amplifies everything. Have you talked to anyone professional about it? Not saying you should handle this alone in the dad forum. Your mental health affects your whole family.