Fellers, I’m really struggling.

Edit 2: I am genuinely astounded by all the support, kind words and helpful replies. I now feel like I have an army of dads behind me for when I feel like I'm falling short. I am absolutely in debt to each and every one of you, and I'm sorry I can't respond to them all. Just know I'm reading them.

I love you guys. Thank you.

E: man, you folks are awesome. Reading all of these similar stories and words of affirmation have kinda snapped me back into reality a bit. Knowing I'm not alone in this is comforting. Thank you so much guys. Seems to be the one place on Reddit where people actually care about each other.

Howdy everyone. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.

New dad here. 5 weeks today.

I don't know if I can do this.

I try and tell myself that it's all normal. That her crying for 14-16 hrs a day is the usual thing to expect. I keep telling myself it's only a season and that it will go away.

But it doesn't feel like it.

I haven't felt truly happy since the moment she was born. I've been sliding downhill since then. I am so upset and disappointed with myself and trying not to let it affect the way I treat my daughter or my wife, but it's becoming harder and harder to do.

Back to work today after a holiday break and she had me up at 5AM crying. No amount of soothing, feeding, interacting, burping, gas kicks seem to make a difference. She is just pissed.

This morning, for the first time, I had real, true feelings of regret. Feelings that I've ruined my life and that I've made a mistake and that I am not stuck between a life of unhappiness and stress or a life of despicable divorced dad child support bullshit which I would literally rather die before doing.

What am I doing wrong? My wife is the most fantastic, supportive, caring, wonderful person ever. None of this is her doing.

My father was one of those movie dads who made my childhood an absolute masterpiece... how the fuck am I supposed to do that for my daughter when the sound of her crying makes me want to run for the hills?

I need help guys. Tell me it gets better. Tell me one of you has felt as hopeless as I feel right now. It's 7AM and I've been standing in my kitchen crying for 45 mins out of sheet exhaustion, sadness and guilt.