Sleep deprivation is making me angry at my wife for no reason

Jan 23·1 min read

We've got a newborn (8 days old) and a 2-year-old. I'm at the point where my wife breathes wrong and I want to snap at her. We're both running on like 3 hours of broken sleep. She snapped back at me yesterday and we had our first real fight since the baby came. I know it's the exhaustion talking but it's scary how thin my patience is. Anyone else experience this? Does it get better once you get actual sleep again?

5 comments141 views

Comments(5)

BBrad M.RegularJan 23

I was the same way. I felt terrible about it but once I got even one solid 4-hour stretch of sleep I was like 80% less angry at everything. Hang in there.

JJosephNew DadJan 24

If your wife can handle one night shift solo, take it. Go sleep in another room if you have to. Sometimes a full uninterrupted block of sleep fixes the mental state enough to get through.

RRichardRegularJan 25

Real talk - communicate this to your wife when you're NOT angry. Tell her the sleep deprivation is messing with your mood and you need to work together on a rotation or something.

BBrad K.New DadJan 26

8 days in with a newborn and a 2yo is legitimately brutal. You're running on fumes. This anger isn't really about your wife, it's your brain screaming for sleep.

LLarry P.RegularJan 25

The angry at everything feeling passes eventually. You're in the worst of it right now. It gets better.