Showing up as our best selves is an admirable goal, and being strong, dependable fathers and husbands give immense meaning and purpose to our lives and the work we do on ourselves. Many of us have been conditioned to "suck it up", "man up" and in effect bury our emotions. Of course there are times and situations that require this of us, but this should not be our default when things get overwhelming.

 Many of us believe that admitting we are struggling, or having emotional needs makes us look weak. We feel very uncomfortable being vulnerable, talking to others about our struggles or admitting that we are not really handling everything life is throwing us. We owe it to ourselves and our family to pay attention to our mental health and take action when we notice we are taking too much strain.

Taking our mental health seriously is a vital part of becoming the complete dad.