Post-Wedding Depression in Newlyweds

Getting married is an exciting time for many women.

While highly stressful, the adrenaline rush associated with planning and coordinating a wedding can be a thrilling time that many women look forward to experiencing at least once in their life. For the high strung and energetic women, the wedding day arrives; the reception takes place, and the guests go home only to find they are left with feelings of remorse and loneliness.

What transpires next is often not expected; post-wedding depression. For women eagerly planning a wedding celebration, understanding the implication and symptoms of post-wedding depression will ensure a more pleasant transition into married life.

Post wedding blues, also known as bridal depression or post-wedding depression, is common among women who may commonly romanticize the institution of marriage. In post-wedding depression, following the wedding day, many brides fall into a deep depression when faced with the reality that “THE” day has come and gone and now settling into married life, as the role of a wife, is a lifelong commitment.

For some women, this may seem depressing as it closes the chapter on a part of her life and begins a new unchartered path. It is during this period that many women will turn to their mother figure or a very close friend as a confidante to express concerns. While these two individuals may have been supportive during the wedding preparation process, discussing fears and sadness, over the nuptials, should not be discussed with mom or friends.

Because these individuals may also be suffering a sense of “loss,” they may not offer the most objective advice or comfort during this transition period of the bride. When faced with post-wedding depression, the optimal sounding board would be a spiritual advisor or a marriage counselor.

Methods for preventing post-wedding depression involve, primarily, preparing the bride for the emotional roller coaster following the wedding day. For many brides, transitioning slowly into married life is optimal as most marriage counselors and spiritual advisors will recommend a relaxing honeymoon as a subtle transition from wedding ceremonies to the daily routine of married life. For these women, the added change, prior to the wedding, of moving away from family and friends, losing the freedom associated with being single and the exactness of a lifelong commitment, should all be addressed and transitioned slowly before marriage.

When not treated or prevented, post-wedding depression can lead to a very difficult first year of marriage as many women become distant from their new husbands. While medications do not seem to provide an answer to this type of depression, many women will opt to use an anti-depressant in an effort to transit through the period. However, all women suffering from post-wedding depression will benefit well from the one on one therapy sessions involving cognitive therapy and may, in rare cases, require post-wedding marriage counseling.

For many women, planning a wedding day is a special event often dreamed of even as young girls. With the hustle and bustle of wedding plans, wedding day jitters, and wedding ceremonial events, many brides feel every emotion, except depression. Following the nuptials, post-wedding depression may become evident as the bride changes into a new daily routine as a wife. For family members, friends and loved ones of the bride, recognizing this condition may exist and stepping forward to recommend counseling may be the key factor to improve a healthy start to a new marriage.