These Advice shared by A Parent That Saved Me during my time as a Brand-New Parent

"In my view I was just trying to survive for twelve months."

Former Made In Chelsea personality Ryan Libbey thought he would to cope with the difficulties of becoming a dad.

However the reality rapidly proved to be "completely different" to his expectations.

Life-threatening health complications surrounding the birth saw his partner Louise being hospitalised. Suddenly he was thrust into becoming her primary caregiver while also taking care of their baby boy Leo.

"I was doing each nighttime feed, each diaper… every stroll. The role of both parents," Ryan stated.

Following eleven months he reached burnout. That was when a chat with his own dad, on a park bench, that helped him see he needed help.

The direct phrases "You are not in a healthy space. You must get support. In what way can I support you?" paved the way for Ryan to express himself truthfully, look for assistance and regain his footing.

His story is far from unique, but seldom highlighted. While the public is now more accustomed to discussing the stress on mothers and about post-natal depression, not enough is spoken about the challenges fathers go through.

Seeking help isn't a weakness to ask for help

Ryan believes his struggles are linked to a wider reluctance to communicate among men, who often absorb damaging ideas of manhood.

Men, he says, often feel they must be "the harbour wall that just takes the pounding and remains standing time and again."

"It's not a show of weakness to request help. I didn't do that soon enough," he explains.

Clinical psychologist Dr Jill Domoney, a expert focusing on mental health surrounding childbirth, explains men frequently refuse to acknowledge they're having a hard time.

They can feel they are "not the right person to be requesting help" - especially ahead of a new mother and infant - but she highlights their mental well-being is vitally important to the unit.

Ryan's chat with his dad gave him the chance to ask for a respite - taking a couple of days overseas, outside of the domestic setting, to gain perspective.

He understood he had to make a shift to focus on his and his partner's feelings as well as the practical tasks of taking care of a newborn.

When he was honest with Louise, he realised he'd overlooked "what she needed" -physical connection and listening to her.

'Parenting yourself

That realisation has reshaped how Ryan perceives being a dad.

He's now writing Leo regular notes about his feelings as a dad, which he wishes his son will read as he matures.

Ryan thinks these will help his son to more fully comprehend the expression of feelings and make sense of his parenting choices.

The concept of "parenting yourself" is something rapper and songwriter Professor Green - also known as Stephen Manderson - has also felt keenly since becoming a dad to his son Slimane, who is now four years old.

During his childhood Stephen did not have consistent male parenting. Despite having an "amazing" connection with his dad, deep-held difficult experiences meant his father struggled to cope and was "present intermittently" of his life, affecting their connection.

Stephen says suppressing feelings resulted in him make "poor choices" when in his youth to change how he was feeling, turning in alcohol and substances as escapism from the hurt.

"You gravitate to substances that are harmful," he notes. "They might short-term modify how you feel, but they will eventually exacerbate the problem."

Tips for Getting By as a New Father

• Talk to someone - if you feel overwhelmed, confide in a family member, your spouse or a therapist about your state of mind. This can to lighten the load and make you feel more supported.
• Maintain your passions - make time for the things that made you feel like you before having a baby. Examples include going for a run, seeing friends or gaming.
• Pay attention to the body - a good diet, getting some exercise and if you can, sleep, all are important in how your mental state is coping.
• Spend time with other first-time fathers - listening to their stories, the difficult parts, as well as the joys, can help to put into perspective how you're feeling.
• Remember that asking for help does not mean you've failed - looking after you is the optimal method you can look after your household.

When his father eventually died by suicide, Stephen expectedly struggled to accept the death, having had no contact with him for a long time.

Now being a father himself, Stephen's determined not to "perpetuate the cycle" with his own son and instead offer the security and emotional support he did not receive.

When his son threatens to have a tantrum, for example, they try "releasing the emotion" together - processing the feelings safely.

Both Ryan and Stephen explain they have become more balanced, healthier men because they faced their pain, altered how they talk, and learned to control themselves for their sons.

"I'm better… processing things and handling things," says Stephen.

"I expressed that in a letter to Leo last week," Ryan adds. "I expressed, on occasion I feel like my purpose is to instruct and tell you on life, but the truth is, it's a exchange. I am understanding just as much as you are through this experience."