I hope this posting doesn’t apply
to you. . .but just in case it does. . .
true story
Ten days before Andy and Sara’s
wedding (names changed), their event
planner called and asked if I’d meet with them at their home. Things were in
melt-down mode. I’d finalized their ceremony more than a month before. It was a
brief meeting and while they were stressed, they seemed no more so than most
couples. Now, though, I could feel the tension when I walked into their house.
We sat down, I smiled and simply
asked, “What’s up?” Silence. Anger, not stress, creased their faces. I asked
Sara what had happened. She began talking about Andy as though he weren’t in
the room. It was hard to follow what she was saying, but it soon became a
litany of what he’d done wrong.
Suddenly, Andy exploded, “SHUT UP!
I’M SICK OF YOUR LIES!” And, yes, I was now worried as he was bigger than I am
and looked like he’d mentally snapped. They launched into a yelling match,
totally ignoring me. I’ll admit that I was mesmerized since it was like I’d
been transported to the set of a reality show!
But then I came to my senses and
tried to intervene. Being polite and officiant-like wasn’t going to do the job,
so I tapped into my New York voice and shouted, “YO!” They turned and looked at
me seeming almost confused as to what I was doing in their home. Sara quickly
looked embarrassed, while Andy just steamed.
What had gone so wrong between
them? Well, they had an infant (unplanned). They were building a home. They had
unresolved and non-discussed money issues. They had no time to talk, just time
to argue and lash out; to say hurtful things to each other that they didn’t
know what to do with. Their jumbled, poorly expressed emotions left them exhausted
as they crawled to what they called the “finish line” of their wedding
planning.
It sounded, though, more like the
finish line of their relationship.
Andy and Sara had a far more
complicated relationship than I’d been aware of. Part of what made their
dynamic so rough was the manner in which they dealt with difficult
conversations. Because they weren’t skilled at talking with each other; because
they avoided the tough and messy issues; because they were overwhelmed by their
intense feelings, all they could do was scream, accuse and belittle each other.
Avoid, simmer, erupt, hurt, and
then retreat. This was their pattern. Classic aggressive behavior.
Sanity Saver Questions:
• Do you enjoy yelling at your
partner?
• Do you enjoy putting your partner
down in front of other people?
• Have you ever said, “I hate you!”
to your partner?
If you answered “yes” to any one of
these questions, then I suggest you put aside this book and search for a
counselor and put your wedding plans on hold.
Remember: yelling, humiliating and hating are clear indicators that
your relationship needs professional care and attention. Screaming, belittling
and accusing are not the ways in which you protect and keep each other safe.
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