My depression is making me a bad dad

3d ago·1 min read

Some days I can barely get out of bed and I feel terrible because my kids need me to show up. My wife is exhausted from picking up the slack and I know she's frustrated with me even though she's trying not to show it. I'm on meds but they're not really helping like they used to. Talked to my doctor about switching but I'm scared of making things worse. Anyone been through medication changes? How did you manage with the family while dealing with it?

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Comments(3)

MMatt W.Regular3d ago

Man, I get it. Some days I'm running on fumes too with two kids and it feels like I'm failing them. But showing up on the hard days, even if it's just being present in the same room, that's actually huge. Your kids need their dad healthy more than they need a perfect dad.

KKevin M.Regular3d ago

You're already doing the thing that matters by recognizing this and wanting to be better. Talk to your wife about specific days where you can take over so she gets a real break, even if it's just an hour. And please talk to someone about the depression itself, not just the dad guilt.

NNathanNew Dad3d ago

Been there more times than I'd like to admit. The fact that you're worried about being a bad dad means you're not. Reach out to your doctor, lean on your wife, and give yourself some grace on the tough days.