Mental and Emotional Challenges for New Fathers

As the father of a fourteen month old baby, I am acutely aware of the challenges faced by new parents. Becoming a father has been beautiful but has definitely not been easy. Between losing sleep, an increase in expenses and a significant change in lifestyle, becoming a new parent is a challenge for most. I have certainly felt mixed emotions since my daughter was born and I believe more people have these feelings than openly express them. While there are many expectations and beliefs about maternity, there are similar but more understated expectations about paternity. Fathers are generally expected to handle the changes that with parenthood without outwardly showing signs of stress or emotional difficulty. There is an expectation of dads that we work hard, provide, and sacrifice for our family without concern to the impact on our emotional and mental health. I believe it is important for new fathers to be mindful of one's level of burnout, stress, and level of feeling overwhelmed. We as men tend to bottle everything up and it is difficult to admit we are struggling.

The partnership between parents can be a source of strength for new fathers but it is important to share with your partner how you are feeling. Although it is uncomfortable for us to be vulnerable, allowing those we trust to see how we are really doing opens the door to receive the support we need. It can be overwhelming to be a new father. However, being aware of your own feelings and being willing to share them with people you trust can help a man maintain an emotional equilibrium and models healthy emotional regulation to our children. If the challenges of being a new parent become too overwhelming it can be helpful to talk about this with a mental health professional. I would be happy to talk to you about these issues, to schedule a consultation, or to schedule an appointment for therapy. You can reach me, Aaron Hanlin, at Nuevo Camino Counseling at 205-545-4440 or at nuevocaminocounseling@hushmail.com .