I started it when my life fell apart.

For years, my family had a system—she was the financial foundation, and I handled everything else. Kids, house, day-to-day life. We both played our roles, and for a long time, it worked.

But at some point, I broke. I got overwhelmed trying to keep up with everything—life, pressure, expectations, even trying to match her success. And instead of speaking up, I shut down. I went into a real depression. The kind where you’re physically there, but mentally gone. I was doing the bare minimum just to function.

I didn’t ask for help. I didn’t talk about it. I thought that’s what being a man was—handle it alone and figure it out.

That mindset cost me my relationship.

And I’m going to be real—there were moments I went to a very dark place.
The kind of place a lot of men don’t talk about. If it wasn’t for my kids, I honestly don’t know if I’d still be here today trying to fix things and become a better father and a better man.

That’s something we don’t talk about enough. There’s a stigma around men and mental health—like we’re supposed to stay silent, stay strong, figure it out alone. And a lot of guys end up in a bad place because of that.