To all new dads
A
study conducted in the University of Virginia and later published in the
‘’Journal of American medical association’ claims that nearly 20 percentage of
depressive disorders among men are post- partum. Technically, psychiatrists
called this as Post natal depression (PND) and it shows an increasing trend
among men.
Nowadays
our traditional notion of parenthood is undergoing a massive transformation and
simultaneously social expectations from ‘new dads’ have also changed. Breakage
of the traditional gender roles with both husband and wife working and sharing
the house hold chores have also , created a piquant situation where now men can’t
think traditionally. The distancing of the joint family system and non-acceptance
of husband’s mother as a support base by his wife -who is an empowered
working women- have also added to this. Today
the ‘new dad’ faces a situation that he
has not experienced before and slowly dips into depression, nappy in hand..
I
remember way back in 2001, few months after being blessed with a daughter, I
was not able to respond to the pleasantries and best wishes of friends. I found
that I have jumped into some form of melancholy. I was somewhere in a future
world. It was not changing the nappy that worried me, but being far away from home
and not being able to change my child's nappy was my cause of worry. With an inexplicable
sense of responsibility and looking into some wary future, I quit my Job and
came home.
My
PND cost me my job.
Today I keep my head high as a successful dad and that cradled baby who gave
me blues, has now turned up as my best friend . As I
looked back into that epoch of uncertainty,I
thought of writing to all young fathers, and make them realize this malady
and take professional help as and when needed.
As
I tell my daughter, that there was a period of PND , in my life as well, she
giggles and says “Dad it’s time now for the mid-life crisis ….and get ready for
the next bout of blues
Sanyasi
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