Dealing with fears and doubts about your upcoming wedding date is nothing to be ashamed of, and it’s not unusual. So, try not to stress too much about it!

Getting “cold feet” before your wedding is a tale as old as time. You’ve seen it in movies and TV shows, it’s a popular concept for a reason. So many people feel this way.

Remember when Chandler went missing on the morning of him and Monica’s wedding? That’s just one example, and you don’t have to be a fan of the show “Friends” to understand the fear of getting into a lifelong contract with someone.

According to Brides.com, “cold feet”, or wedding anxiety, can manifest in many ways. It doesn’t discriminate: It is a common plague for brides and grooms.

A few ways that “cold feet” can present itself includes regular mental and emotional breakdowns, frequent fighting with your fiancé, depressed or anxious episodes, a decreased sex drive, and general anxiety symptoms like stomach pain, heart palpitations, impending fear, etc.

These are normal emotions and reactions to a large upcoming event such as a wedding, especially one that you are planning yourself.

These fears and anxieties can also be brought on by the fear of marrying someone and being in a commitment for the rest of your life. Let’s be honest– it’s a big deal.

You may also fear that you chose the wrong person and wonder what your life would be like if this wedding wasn’t happening. This is also a completely normal fear to have, and you’re not alone. Many people who are married have felt this same way.

The first piece of advice that we can give is try your hardest not to let these thoughts ruin your excitement for your wedding.

Keep this in mind when practicing the following 3 tips to help you deal with cold feet…

1. Make a “positives” list

Make a list of the reasons that you are marrying your fiancé. What do you love most about them? What are you excited about in the future? What are some things that you agree on that matter deeply to you? This list may help soothe your nerves and fears over marrying the wrong person. Remind yourself why they are the right person.

2. Seek therapy

While getting cold feet is common, it can also mean that you need to speak to a professional about why you feel the way that you do. Couples therapy or individual therapy can help you and your fiancé or you alone to come to a conclusion about why you feel this way, and healthy ways to cope.

Many times, even just expressing your fears about marriage or the wedding out loud can help take a load off of you after experiencing those negative, scared thoughts.

3. Speak to loved ones

If you don’t feel like planning a therapy session before the wedding or would prefer to speak to someone who knows your life, talk to your best friends or family members. They will be able to provide you with some perspective, give good advice, and talk you through how you’re feeling.

You may even consider talking about these feelings with your fiancé. They’d much rather be able to talk with you about how you’re feeling than later find out that you were scared and anxious leading up to your special day! They may even be feeling the nerves themselves; and you can lean on each other and remind each other why you’re getting married in the first place.

©CTW Features