I’m guessing everyone’s told you how exciting planning your wedding will be… but I wonder if even one person’s asked how you’re feeling? If no one asks about your mental health, you might assume it’s not normal to be feeling overwhelm, anxiety or worse. But it really is. You shouldn’t have to hide your feelings – and you don’t have to.
From the initial excitement of saying ‘yes’ when you agree to marry each other, stress triggers can come rushing at you pretty fast. Looking into wedding logistics with dates, venues, suppliers and finances can cause major overwhelm. It’s not uncommon for a sense of dread to creep in – what if something goes wrong? What if we choose the wrong venue / photographer / time of year?
Without meaning to, friends and family can overburden us with well-meaning (but unsolicited) advice. Too many opinions can lead to overwhelm (and arguments). Jonathan has this advice:
“People, family and friends, are not mind readers; they might notice that you are getting stressed, but help them understand what it is like for you right now. Rather than them telling you what you need to do, ask them to use phrases such as ‘What is it you need right now?’ Or ‘What would you like me to do?’ Rather than them giving you more instructions and therefore contributing to the feelings that you are out of control, instead, it makes you feel supported.” |
