It can be tough being a dad. We have lots of stress on us because we have to work for ourselves but also for those depending on us. We all have bad days and struggle seasons but those can last longer than we realize. We have to pay attention to our daily moods and feelings so that we can recognize something is wrong. Sometimes we have to slow down and take a look in the mirror (both figuratively and literally) to see if something in our life has changed.
Change in Hobbies
It is easy to become depressed and not even realize that it has happened. It is not like one day we are great and the next day we are depressed. It is a slow fade into the darkness and can sneak up on any of us. You may not realize just how far you have slid until you stop and take inventory of yourself. Do you still enjoy the same things that you did two years ago? Did you replace them with new hobbies or do you just not feel enjoyment from them at all? If you stopped watching college football because you are getting more enjoyment from soccer then you are fine. If you quit going to football games because you don’t see a point in being around friends anymore then there may be a problem. I am not diagnosing you here but rather suggesting taking a closer look in the mirror to see what’s underneath the mask you put on to other people.
Change in Appetite
I am a certified stress eater. My sweet tooth goes into overdrive when I’m stressed or bored. Some people lose their appetite completely when they are dealing with stress or depression. The key here is to pay attention to your body and your appetite and any changes that you are dealing with one way or the other. Your body is trying to get through to you with an alert that something is off and needs to be corrected. You don’t want to let it go on for too long because it may create more health issues that cannot be repaired.
Change in Energy Level
Depression can absolutely zap all the energy out of your body. It can be extremely painful just to get out of bed and make it to the couch. Were you the person that used to have energy all day and night and now you have no energy to make it through the day? There may be a chemical imbalance and you may be suffering from a lack of serotonin and you will feel the difference in your energy level. The good news is that sometimes you can combat the depression symptoms by exercising because that will produce the serotonin that you are missing. To begin with, that may not be easy due to your lack of energy but burning energy should actually give you energy. Counterintuitive I know but it is true!!
Time to Ask for Help
If you recognize something is wrong after reading this post then it is time to ask for some help. I was relieved when I finally found out that there was help available for me and that my life did not have to stay out of control. If you need help, there are a multitude of options available for you. I know it will seem hard to believe at first but there are people whose sole purpose on this Earth is to help YOU! I start with my pastor but you may not have a relationship like that so you can find a counselor or therapist to start with if that works better for you. You may want to try a mindset software like Maxi Mindset to help you restructure your daily thoughts and schedule. (Click here to try out Maxi Mindset) Your HR director at your place of employment may be able to point you in the right direction. Your spouse needs to be involved in this also but they may not know how to help so I would find someone trained to help you get through this soon. Congratulations on taking the first step toward being a better you day by day.
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