Happily Ever After... Not!

Post-wedding blues are common, but there are ways to cope.

- Ravina M Sachdev

You’ve walked down the aisle, taken the pheras, and said “I do.” Now what? Once you’ve got hitched, you would expect to experience pure marital bliss, but the reality is that you might not, and you’re not alone. “Post-wedding depression is very real; it describes the feeling of anti-climax after the ceremony and the honeymoon are over and the reality or ordinariness of regular life sets in,” reveals Rishita Makhija, Mumbai-based life coach. It comes from your body going through an emotional withdrawal after experiencing an intense high from all the planning and preparation and, finally, the wedding itself.

WHY, WHY, WHY?

There are many different reasons people might experience a post-wedding low. Science shows that feeling sad after a big event is often to be expected. “The time spent putting in the work leading to the wedding day, shopping for outfits, selecting the venue, food and cake, finalising the decor is all exciting, and it can be a letdown when it’s over,” says Bengaluru-based life coach and celebrity numerologist Sheelaa M Bajaj. She adds that you were surrounded by friends and family for the wedding, and, after they leave, the dopamine rush crashes as you return to your regular life.