Signs and symptoms of perinatal anxiety and depression in men

While anxiety and depression appears differently for each expecting and new dad some of the common symptoms can be: 

• Constant tiredness or exhaustion
• Ongoing headache. High physical stress levels e.g. muscle tension
• Loss of interest in things that were once enjoyed
• Changes in appetite
• Sleep problems (unrelated to baby’s sleep)
• Ongoing irritability, anger or moodiness
• Emotional withdrawal from your partner, baby, family, friends
• Fear of looking after your baby
• Not wanting to communicate with your partner, family and friends
• Feeling isolated
• Using alcohol or drugs to ‘escape’ or cope
• Suicide thoughts.

'I was getting gradually more angry and irritable, and more overwhelmed.'