Baby blues? Dads can suffer from postpartum depression, too

Your father might not have been comfortable talking about his feelings, but these days, more men, and particularly new fathers, are fessing up to being sad dads.Postpartum depression — a severe and long-lasting mood disorder affecting new parents — is self-reported in approximately 12% to 16% of US women, according to the Centers for Disease Control.It’s triggered by hormonal changes after childbirth (although the causes are multifarious and not fully understood).But, fellas, you might be shocked to learn that you can get the baby blues, too, and they affect a whopping 10% of new dads — not far off from the number of diagnosed women.

And that ballpark number is probably low.“Are men reluctant or unwilling to report this? I mean, yeah, come on,” said Sean Leonard, a psychiatric nurse practitioner specializing in mood disorders (among other psychiatric sicknesses) at Healthy Life Recovery: San Diego Drug & Alcohol Rehab.“They’re reluctant to say that they’re depressed, and then why they are depressed.”While men don’t experience the hormonal roller coaster that new moms are subjected to — testosterone does, however, significantly drop in new fathers, studies show — the lifestyle changes that come with parenthood can be just as distressing.Sleepless nights and long days at the office are draining.

Instead of a hot dinner served up with some Netflix and chill, you’re going to arrive home from work just in time for the witching hour.Suddenly, you are squarely in second place.

Or, if you’re one of those newfangled stay-at-home dads (18% of us now are!) the loss of identity and isolation can dampen the glow from your bundle of joy and lead to difficulties with bonding — which in turns creates feelings of guilt.“Fatherhood affects where you live.It affects how you socialize.

It affects your finances,” said Leonard.More slings and arrows still: dad bod starts now.Skipping exercise and overeating are normal for new parents.

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