The Truth About Why Fathers Don’t Feel Guilt Like Mothers Do Why does mum guilt feel constant and crushing — while dads seem to move through life with far less emotional weight?
In this episode, I break down dad guilt vs mum guilt, not from a blaming lens, but from a nervous system, conditioning, and role-expectation perspective.
This is not about who cares more. It’s about how men and women are wired, socialised, and stressed differently after becoming parents. In this episode, I cover:
• Why mum guilt is constant, intrusive, and emotionally exhausting
• Why dads often don’t experience guilt in the same way — and what they experience instead
• The difference between anticipatory mental load (common in mothers) and compartmentalised stress (common in fathers)
• Why mums feel like they can never fully switch off
• Why dads can go out, exercise, socialise, or rest without the same internal conflict
• How guilt shows up differently in male nervous systems — often as withdrawal, shutdown, or overworking
• Why this difference causes resentment in marriages after children
• How misunderstanding this gap slowly breaks emotional connection
• What couples need to stop assuming about each other
• How understanding dad guilt properly can reduce conflict, resentment, and emotional distance What most couples get wrong Mothers often assume: “If you don’t feel guilt like I do, you don’t care.” Fathers often assume: “If I’m providing and showing up practically, that should be enough.” Both assumptions quietly damage the marriage. This episode explains what’s actually happening underneath, so couples can stop fighting the wrong problem.
• Mothers who feel constantly burdened by guilt and resentment
• Fathers who feel misunderstood, criticised, or emotionally shut out
• Couples struggling after becoming parents
• Anyone who wants to understand the emotional gap that appears after children
Key takeaway Guilt is not a measure of love. It is a stress response shaped by biology, conditioning, and responsibility load. When couples understand this, they stop attacking each other — and start working as a team again. If this episode resonates, share it with your partner and listen together. I’m Sharanya V, and I help couples and parents build emotional and mental wellness in the middle of the chaos of life.