Those Advice shared by A Dad That Saved Us during my time as a Brand-New Dad

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

One-time Made In Chelsea personality Ryan Libbey thought he would to manage the challenges of fatherhood.

But the truth soon proved to be "utterly different" to his expectations.

Serious health issues surrounding the birth resulted in his partner Louise hospitalised. Suddenly he was pushed into acting as her primary caregiver in addition to looking after their infant son Leo.

"I took on all the nights, every nappy change… every stroll. The job of mother and father," Ryan explained.

After eleven months he reached burnout. That was when a chat with his parent, on a bench in the park, that helped him see he needed help.

The simple phrases "You are not in a good place. You require assistance. What can I do to assist you?" opened the door for Ryan to express himself truthfully, ask for help and regain his footing.

His situation is commonplace, but rarely discussed. Although the public is now better used to addressing the strain on mums and about PND, less is said about the challenges dads go through.

Seeking help isn't a weakness to ask for help

Ryan believes his difficulties are linked to a larger reluctance to talk among men, who still internalise harmful notions of masculinity.

Men, he says, tend to think they must be "the harbour wall that just takes the pounding and doesn't fall time and again."

"It isn't a sign of weakness to ask for help. I was too slow to do that quick enough," he clarifies.

Mental health expert Dr Jill Domoney, a specialist specialising in mental health surrounding childbirth, notes men often don't want to acknowledge they're finding things difficult.

They can think they are "not the right person to be seeking help" - most notably in front of a mum and baby - but she highlights their mental state is just as important to the household.

Ryan's conversation with his dad provided him with the opportunity to request a break - spending a short trip overseas, away from the home environment, to gain perspective.

He realised he required a change to pay attention to his and his partner's emotions as well as the practical tasks of caring for a new baby.

When he was honest with Louise, he discovered he'd failed to notice "what she needed" -reassuring touch and paying attention to her words.

Reparenting yourself'

That realisation has reshaped how Ryan perceives fatherhood.

He's now composing Leo letters each week about his journey as a dad, which he aspires his son will read as he gets older.

Ryan thinks these will help his son better understand the language of emotion and understand his parenting choices.

The notion of "self-parenting" is something rapper and songwriter Professor Green - also known as Stephen Manderson - has also strongly identified with since becoming a dad to his son Slimane, who is now four years old.

When he was young Stephen did not have consistent male a father figure. Despite having an "amazing" connection with his dad, long-standing trauma caused his father had difficulty managing and was "in and out" of his life, affecting their bond.

Stephen says bottling up emotions led him to make "terrible actions" when younger to modify how he was feeling, finding solace in substance use as a way out from the anguish.

"You gravitate to substances that aren't helpful," he says. "They can short-term modify how you feel, but they will in the end cause more harm."

Tips for Getting By as a First-Time Parent

• Talk to someone - when you are under pressure, speak to a trusted person, your partner or a counsellor how you're feeling. Doing so may to ease the pressure and make you feel less isolated.
• Remember your hobbies - continue with the activities that helped you to feel like you before having a baby. Examples include going for a run, socialising or playing video games.
• Look after the physical health - nutritious food, getting some exercise and if you can, resting, all contribute in how your mental state is doing.
• Connect with other first-time fathers - listening to their journeys, the difficult parts, along with the good ones, can help to normalise how you're experiencing things.
• Remember that seeking help isn't failing - looking after your own well-being is the most effective way you can care for your family.

When his father eventually died by suicide, Stephen naturally found it hard to accept the passing, having been out of touch with him for years.

As a dad now, Stephen's resolved not to "perpetuate the cycle" with his child and instead give the safety and nurturing he did not receive.

When his son is about to have a tantrum, for example, they try "shaking it out" together - expressing the feelings constructively.

Both Ryan and Stephen explain they have become more balanced, healthier men due to the fact that they faced their pain, transformed how they communicate, and figured out how to control themselves for their kids.

"I am now more capable of… processing things and handling things," explains Stephen.

"I wrote that in a message to Leo recently," Ryan shares. "I wrote, sometimes I think my role is to guide and direct you on life, but in reality, it's a two-way conversation. I'm learning an equal amount as you are on this path."