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Wedding Related Article Archive
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Article -
- The "Bridezilla" Syndrome:
Do You Have It? Ten Ways to
Avoid all the BS!
By
Gina Romanello
Author of
Chicken Soup for the Bride's
Soul
In a
fast-paced world of wedding planning,
stress levels are high; immune systems
are low; and over the course of the past
20 years, brides have transmitted, what
has become the bridal epidemic of our
time.
The
number of victims has steadily
increased; and to date, there is no
cure. It's been dubbed various clinical
names: Multiple Personality Disorder,
Schizophrenia, Temporary Insanity. But
in the world of matrimony, anyone who's
been exposed - fiancés, family, friends,
and victims themselves -- this
broadening illness has been commonly
termed "Bridezilla Syndrome" or "BS."
A
contagious condition, BS has become more
prominent and has plagued today's busy,
wedding-planning woman. In a preliminary
study, the disease has spread at an
alarming rate. Symptoms of victims of BS
-- better known as Bridezillas --
include reoccurring mood swings, bouts
with selfishness, signs of controlling
behavior and feelings of meticulousness.
Unfortunately fiancés, bridal party
members, friends and family eventually
fall victim to the actions and attitudes
of a Bridezilla.
Research suggests that symptoms are
recognized most often by the fiancé and
Maid of Honor, and are completely
undetectable by the actual victim. In
some cases, a bridal party member, who
having had too much alcohol to drink,
confronted the Bridezilla. Most often,
an emotional, breakdown of the victim
would follow, thus intensifying her
condition. In a survey of 100 Maids of
Honor, an alarming 85% said they avoided
confrontation with the victim for fear
it would only exasperate the illness.
So we
must ask the underlying questions: Where
is all this BS coming from? How does one
know when she's full of it?
Unfortunately the source has not been
found; though it is believed that it has
existed since the dawn of the
institution of marriage. A short-term
condition (symptoms persist about 1-2
years depending on one's wedding date),
Bridezillas seem to have been unfairly
blamed for their actions, for which some
believe they have no control, albeit
their control over everything else. In
fact, it's been clinically proven that a
Bridezilla actually does have feelings
-- feelings of selfishness, insecurity,
anxiousness and stress!
Though
it's been said there is no cure, there
are ways to prevent infection of BS. A
survey of healthy brides, whom
successfully planned their weddings
without contracting the disease, was
conducted. Results showed commonalities
of the actions performed to avoid the
disorder. Doctors, psychologists and
wedding planners strongly suggest the
following preventative therapy:
-
Don't Assume Your Groom Doesn't Want
to Help - ask him what he'd like to
take responsibility for; and then
let him. (note: some grooms may
follow the old cliché and decline this
offer.)
-
Know That You Can't Control
Everything - realize this and accept
it!
-
Delegate. Delegate. Delegate - If
you act like you can handle
everything, people will let you.
Spread the duties.
-
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff - people
won't remember whether or not your
invitations had those cute little
tissues enclosed.
-
Treat The People You Cherish with
Love - the wedding is one day; your
family and friends are forever.
-
Allow Others to Vent - give your
fiancé, family and bridesmaids
permission to tell you when you're
going off the deep-end.
-
Take the Heat - give yourself
permission to hear them.
-
Do
Something for Yourself Every Day -
the catch is that it must not
involve the wedding.
-
No
Wedding Talk After 10pm.
Although preventative therapy is
available, some brides inherently fall
victim and still contract BS. But there
is hope! This is not a terminal illness.
In fact in most cases, the bride has
been known to be miraculously cured once
she has returned from her honeymoon.
Doctors and psychologists theorize that
the change in altitude from flying
coupled with excessive levels of the
love hormone, Oxytocin counteracts the
disease by boosting the immune system,
thus eliminating symptoms. In cases of remission, the disease has
been known to resurface when a person,
under certain circumstances, may be
planning her wedding again. According to
research, those brides with a higher IQ
score avoided the reoccurrence of
symptoms by simply eloping. Whatever your situation, whether a Bridezilla, fiancé, friend or family
member of one -- join in the fight! With
love, hope and education, our brides of
the future and their bridal parties will
have a winning chance against all the
BS!
Chicken Soup for the Bride's Soul,
available now at all bookstores and discounted online at
www.Amazon.com
THE PERFECT WEDDING BEGINS WITH
INSPIRATION! Romantic, humorous,
touching and true. This books brings to
light the true meaning of love and
commitment,
whether you are newly
engaged, recently married or reflecting
on the years of married bliss.
This book makes the
perfect bridal shower gift too!
Visit
www.bridesoul.com for more
information about Chicken Soup for the
Bride's Soul.
Footnote: Preventative Therapy of
Bridezilla Syndrome provided by
WeddingQuestions.com
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