As fathers and father figures, it’s so easy to get lost in our other roles and forget what our first job is. Yet being a dad is the most important job we’ll ever do.
What we do, or don’t do as dads, has an enormous impact on the happiness and health of the kids we love.
We can help build resilience, self-respect and emotional wellbeing
And we can give our kids a sense of self-worth, just by showing up and being there.
Yes, it’s a big job. But you don’t have to go it alone.
“It’s a real bloke thing, not talking to people because it’s not manly to get help…”
Some men feel reluctant to seek help when they are unsure about the severity of a problem, citing concerns such as embarrassment, or not wanting to appear weak by unnecessarily seeking help.
Bottling up feelings is like shaking a bottle of coke eventually it will open and explode everywhere.
It’s critical you seek support when things don’t feel right. If you notice changes in how you feel on a daily basis and it’s lasted longer than a few weeks – please seek help from a professional.
“I thought things couldn’t get worse when the marriage broke down, but losing my kids and the house really hit me hard. Talking to someone outside my own family helped me to cope and get on with life”. Bill, 42
Anxiety and depression are like any other medical condition – you need ways to manage them and recover. Make an appointment and take your list of symptoms to your family doctor (GP). Your doctor is a good source of information and can assess if what you are feeling is anxiety or depression. Sometimes these conditions are experienced together. If you are diagnosed with one of these conditions, or both, together you can work out an action plan.
Access to a local Psychologist is freely available through Medicare if you get a referral from your GP.
If you are struggling, call Lifeline on 131 114, Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636, Mens Line Australia – 1300 789 978
