Times like these are why they invented the word bittersweet. Your child is getting married. You’re thrilled and excited for them. You’re proud of them. Still, of course, there’s a twinge of sadness and a sense of them moving on. Where in the world did the time go? But what if you’re experiencing more than that? What if anxiety is rearing its ugly head?
Anxiety is a normal and usually useful response to danger or threats. However, far too often, it becomes dysfunctional. In such cases, anxiety morphs into the most common mental health condition on the planet. But why, specifically, would you feel anxious on such a momentous occasion?
Some Reasons Why You Might Get Anxious When Your Child Is Getting Married
First and foremost, if you’re dealing with an anxiety disorder, there doesn’t have to be a clear reason for you to feel anxious. That’s where the “disorder” part comes in. Chronic anxiety can cloud your brain’s ability to discern between real and imagined risks. So, when something really big is happening in your life, it’s not surprising that you would default to feeling anxious. A few more specific causes include:
It’s a Big Change
Your baby has grown up and is about to start a new life. This could be your entry into life in an empty nest. If you’re divorced or widowed, it could also be setting you up to live alone. There’s no shame in finding this to be quite daunting. Meanwhile, you’ll be worried about your child starting their own new adventure.
So Many Questions
A few, for starters:
Will my child be happy and safe and secure?
Will they stay happily married?
How will I fit into my child’s new life?
Can I help out but not become a pain in the neck?
Am I still important to my child?
Who is this stranger that is now part of my family?
So Many New People in Your Life
Following up on that last question, your social circle just involuntarily expanded. Your child has a spouse and that spouse has friends and family. During holidays and other important moments, you may be interacting with people you barely know. Will you like them or at least tolerate them? What do they think about you? At this point in your life, this could feel like quite a challenge.
Details
At the moment, you might be juggling a whole lot of logistics. Wedding plans, limos, hotel reservations, giving a toast, and so much more go into the parent’s experience of their child’s wedding. You’re not alone if this feels overwhelming. It’s enough to make you anxious. If you’re already someone struggling with anxiety, it can just add to your burden.
How to Manage Anxiety
Mindfulness
As you can see from the above details, a big player in your anxiety is anticipation. You might sum it all up as: What’s gonna happen? When you remain mindful, you bring yourself back into the present moment. This empowers you to think calmly and take things one step at a time.
Self-Care
You’ll need a strong version of yourself to manage this process. A powerful step in that direction is creating a daily self-care regimen. Safeguard your eating, sleeping, and physical activity routines. Cultivate some relaxation techniques. Prioritize yourself.
Journal
Keeping a journal allows you to identify and monitor triggers. It also empowers you to keep track of reasons to be grateful. Embracing daily gratitude creates so much balance in your life.
Anxiety can be a diagnosable disorder. If things are causing you to struggle with daily functioning, let’s connect. Therapy is a proven path toward healing and recovery. If you want to learn more about Anxiety Treatment, click here.