Fatherhood can be a beautiful, grounding experience, but it also comes with weight. Balancing work, relationships, parenting duties, and the pressure to appear emotionally strong can leave many dads feeling overwhelmed. In many families, fathers are still expected to hold everything together, which often leads to them neglecting their own mental health needs.
The trouble is, signs of emotional strain don’t always show up in obvious ways. Instead of sadness or worry, distress might appear through irritability, withdrawal, or even physical symptoms. Recognizing these signs early can be the difference between temporary burnout and long-term damage. Here are six signs that suggest it might be time for dads to consider reaching out for support.