🧠 Mental Health, PEDs & Fatherhood — Real Talk Before Father’s Day

[aimanabolic]

With Father’s Day coming up, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to show up — not just as a man, but as a dad, a partner, and someone who’s supposed to keep it all together.

I’m on PEDs, like a lot of guys here. I train hard. I push myself. But I also take Vyvanse, Fluvoxamine, and Lamotrigine — prescribed by my psychiatrist — because mental health doesn’t just “sort itself out,” especially when you’ve got the added stress of being a provider, husband, and father.

PEDs can enhance a lot — strength, focus, drive — but they can also magnify anxiety, irritability, and inner chaos if you’re not on top of your mental game. That’s why I stay consistent with my meds and check in with myself regularly.

I also want to shout out my coach — he’s opened the door for me to talk to him anytime I need, and that kind of support makes a huge difference. Sometimes just having someone in your corner who gets it is everything.

This isn’t about weakness — it’s about staying present for my wife and kids. Being strong in the gym doesn’t mean anything if I’m not emotionally available at home.

To the other dads out there: if you're struggling, you're not alone. DM me anytime. Sometimes just talking to another guy who's been there makes all the difference.

Happy early Father’s Day. Take care of your mind like you do your body.

 

[neutrino]

What an awesome and positive post man. Congrats on being a great dad

 

[aimanabolic]

What an awesome and positive post man. Congrats on being a great dad

I try to be, they are the reason I do most everything.

 

[ripriot]

With Father’s Day coming up, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to show up — not just as a man, but as a dad, a partner, and someone who’s supposed to keep it all together.

I’m on PEDs, like a lot of guys here. I train hard. I push myself. But I also take Vyvanse, Fluvoxamine, and Lamotrigine — prescribed by my psychiatrist — because mental health doesn’t just “sort itself out,” especially when you’ve got the added stress of being a provider, husband, and father.

PEDs can enhance a lot — strength, focus, drive — but they can also magnify anxiety, irritability, and inner chaos if you’re not on top of your mental game. That’s why I stay consistent with my meds and check in with myself regularly.

I also want to shout out my coach — he’s opened the door for me to talk to him anytime I need, and that kind of support makes a huge difference. Sometimes just having someone in your corner who gets it is everything.

This isn’t about weakness — it’s about staying present for my wife and kids. Being strong in the gym doesn’t mean anything if I’m not emotionally available at home.

To the other dads out there: if you're struggling, you're not alone. DM me anytime. Sometimes just talking to another guy who's been there makes all the difference.

Happy early Father’s Day. Take care of your mind like you do your body.

Mental health is synergistic with physical health! It fascinates me how the stimulants compliment the psychotropic meds. The physical symptoms of stress and anxiety are real as fuck. Congrats man. Best wishes for your 2025 endeavors!

 

[Josefein421]

Mental health struggles are real. So many men suffer in silence because they think they must be stoic. There are videos circulating on IG of women mocking Mens Mental Health Month. Can you imagine if a man mocked Pride Month? Just the way society is unfortunately. I am a veteran and veterans are an especially vulnerable population with mental health. But it isn't just veterans. It is all men for the reasons and pressures you describe. It is time to end the stigma before it costs even more lives. If society won't give mens mental health the attention or help it needs than it is on us to be there to help each other.

I am nobody on here but anyone can message me here or IG adamb0369 anytime to talk, vent or anything. Any time. I know the struggles personally and will always be there for anyone who needs an ear or help.

 

[aimanabolic]

There are videos circulating on IG of women mocking Mens Mental Health Month.

When I first opened up to my wife about my mental state, which didn't happen until my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, she really wasn't receptive to it.

Mind you she's a RN and one of the sweetest people I know.

She's much more receptive now that we have discussed this in depth, but I could only imagine the less than nice partners and how they would respond to their man having mental issues.

 

[Josefein421]

When I first opened up to my wife about my mental state, which didn't happen until my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, she really wasn't receptive to it.

Mind you she's a RN and one of the sweetest people I know.

She's much more receptive now that we have discussed this in depth, but I could only imagine the less than nice partners and how they would respond to their man having mental issues.

I am glad you have someone! A support system is crucial!

 

[OuchThatHurts]

I've been on this board 20 years moderating this small part of ProM and finally I see a thread that is everything I wanted the Counseling Forum to be. Great thread and thank you. This truly warms my heart. I'll post up my emotional disaster from 2 years when I'm not so tired (leg day).

Truly gracious,
OTH

 

[aimanabolic]

I've been on this board 20 years moderating this small part of ProM and finally I see a thread that is everything I wanted the Counseling Forum to be. Great thread and thank you. This truly warms my heart. I'll post up my emotional disaster from 2 years when I'm not so tired (leg day).

Truly gracious,
OTH

I didn't even know there was a counseling section TBH, moderators moved my thread over here.

 

[abt10]

I suffer/suffered from severe depression/anxiety, all of that.
It got really bad this past year. I just worked through it, with physical activity
and changing my mindset that I can't control everything.
With that change in mind, my attitude has changed for the better and has really
calmed my demeanor.
It's a daily chore to get my mind right, but with consistency and a routine, its what works for me.

 

[aimanabolic]

I suffer/suffered from severe depression/anxiety, all of that.
It got really bad this past year. I just worked through it, with physical activity
and changing my mindset that I can't control everything.
With that change in mind, my attitude has changed for the better and has really
calmed my demeanor.
It's a daily chore to get my mind right, but with consistency and a routine, its what works for me.

Appreciate you sharing that, man.

That mindset shift you made, not trying to control everything, is one of the hardest but most freeing things to get through. And you’re right, getting your mind right is a daily chore. But that consistency adds up more than people realize.

Glad you’re finding what works for you. If you ever feel like talking or just want to vent to someone who gets it, my DMs are always open. (And for anyone else reading this)

 

[abt10]

I suffer/suffered from severe depression/anxiety, all of that.
It got really bad this past year. I just worked through it, with physical activity
and changing my mindset that I can't control everything.
With that change in mind, my attitude has changed for the better and has really
calmed my demeanor.
It's a daily chore to get my mind right, but with consistency and a routine, its what works for me.

@Sectør so you find it funny that guys come to terms with their mental situation, but then work hard to make the needed corrections ?

 

[Sectør]

@Sectør so you find it funny that guys come to terms with their mental situation, but then work hard to make the needed corrections ?

Huh? What are you talking about?

 

[abt10]

Huh? What are you talking about?

You changed your emoji response from 'Haha' to 'Thumbs up'
Stop being disingenuous.

 

[Sectør]

You changed your emoji response from 'Haha' to 'Thumbs up'
Stop being disingenuous.

Still have no idea what you’re talking about. You keep tagging me and quoting me in stuff and saying all kinds of weird stuff.

 

[abt10]

Screenshots tell the story.. But yeah.. You are not an honest person.

 

[Sectør]

Screenshots tell the story.. But yeah.. You are not an honest person.

Ok then post them. What are you on about?

 

[Josefein421]

Screenshots tell the story.. But yeah.. You are not an honest person.

dont ruin the thread. and youre picking a respected member to throw accusations at.

Let's just get back to the point of the thread.

 

[Samson250]

@Sectør so you find it funny that guys come to terms with their mental situation, but then work hard to make the needed corrections ?

Huh? What are you talking about?

Ok I see this immediately. I got you boys!

abt10: I’m bipolar unmedicated for 13 months. Ok for 12 months but it got harder. You know this you described it in your own story perfectly. I had a major Type 1 episode two months ago. It was as bad as it can get.

I have the best doctors, psychiatrists and therapists Creighton University can provide and the Jesuit philosophy “generally” advocates self reliance but always with a SAFTY NET! a regular appointment with a third party to talk about whatever if you think you need it or not.

You my friend got it completely wrong with Spector who I completely believe has no idea what you’re talking about. He doesn’t and nobody else does but me because I know how WE.. YOU AND I can so easily take something, absolutely nothing, and make it EVERYTHING!

He is attacking me! They are conspiring! He changed his emojis on purpose but no way did you consider:

It was an accidental bump of his finger.
His girlfriend was reading with him and didn’t like his emoji so she changed it.

Why are those not equally possible?

You’re fighting the good fight brother and so am I but you need to understand you got this wrong! You got triggered and when the thoughts and emotions came you REACTED!

I don’t REACT.. I’m like a Buddha floating on a Lilly pad! -Tom Hardy

You can’t do it alone man. Nobody can.


Now. I expect understanding from Spector and anyone else who commented if they did and expect to see posts about it! I haven’t read anything past what I quoted. I will. Then I’ll come back make sure everyone involved has hugged it out.

abt10 had about as much control over feeling Spector was changing emojis to piss him off as Spector can control the fucking weather. I’m not on meds so if I mess up are you going to come at me?

Show me some brotherhood fellas or I’m hunting all of you until it happens. Try my crazy ass.. abt10 is a rookie compared to my Lalo Salamanca ass after you!

 

[HeavyPain]

I’ve been in that mix of meds, PEDs, pressure, and trying to keep my head screwed on straight, and talking to someone outside my circle helped me keep the wheels on. I once reached out through mentalhealthhotline.org, and it pointed me toward solid support without any hoops. Balancing all this stuff gets easier once you let yourself have a place to unload without judgment.