If you’ve got an adorable pet, having a wedding without him or her might be impossible to imagine. After all, they’re family! And there’s not much cuter than a dog in a flower collar walking down the aisle. But once you’ve exchanged vows, you probably can’t bring your pup to your wedding reception. So what should you do with your dog once the ceremony is over? Here are a few ideas from our experts.

What you decide to do with your dog after your wedding ceremony depends a lot on your venue. Getting married at a pet-friendly venue, like a ranch or farm? Consider keeping your dog around for cocktail hour. After all, the guest of honor should have time to greet guests and pose for photos! This will also give you time to take portraits with your pooch once you’re not worried about getting paw prints on your wedding gown. Then, have a dog sitter take your pup back to your home or to a local pet boarding facility for the night. If you’re getting married in your hometown or have a friend or family member who lives nearby, have a dog sitter take him back to the house, where he’ll be more comfortable.

See more: Rescue Dogs Filmed This Wedding with GoPros, and It’s Pretty Much the Best Thing Ever

Having your a reception at a hotel that’s happy to have four-legged guests? Bring your pooch up to your hotel room and assign a bridesmaid or groomsman to check on him once or twice throughout the night to make sure everything is alright. Consider hiring a dog walker to take your pet out for a potty break, and arrange for a wedding night treat!

You may want to have a dog walker or sitter on-hand before the ceremony ends, just in case your pet decides that they’d rather not sit through a wedding ceremony. They can either grab your dog’s leash once he’s made his way down the aisle, or quietly escort him away from the altar if he starts howling during your vows.

Is this real life?! We’ve been positively dying for some wedding details ever since the Duchess of Cambridge’s little sis, Pippa Middleton, became a bride-to-be back in July. Will Middleton follow in her big sister’s steps and wear a truly epic Oscar de la Renta wedding dress? Will Prince George and Princess Charlotte serve as ring bearer and flower girl? But the super private British beauty has been leaving us high and dry — until now that is! The royally-related bride-to-be just gave a rare interview where she dished on her fiancé and those upcoming wedding plans. Can you say score?

This past summer, Middleton’s longtime love James Matthews popped the question with a megawatt vintage-inspired engagement ring featuring an octagonal-shaped halo. Cue the Internet frenzy. “Miss Pippa Middleton and Mr James Matthews are delighted to announce that they became engaged on Sunday, July 17, and plan to marry next year,” the couple said in a short joint statement. But since then, we haven’t heard much from the to-be-wedded pair. But finally, Middleton is opening up in a brand Daily Mail interview!

First thing’s first: How did the world’s most famous sister win the heart of groom? The answer is an oldie but a goodie — through his stomach! According to Middelton’s newly released book Heartfelt, the totally domestic socialite cooked him a delicious halibut for their first homemade meal together. “I am sure he might choose a different dish as his favourite, but it was a very special dinner for us,” remembers Middleton. “You roast the Halibut and serve it with lentils. It’s delicious. James loves it.” And the rest, as they say, is history!

Since then the pair has obviously been totally smittin’ (the woman has an engagement ring for proof!) and Middleton can’t help but gush over their goal-worthy relationship. “I think James and I have the same spirit,” she said. “We are both competitive. We have had many adventures together. We have a lot in common and that helps. I don’t think it would work with a couch potato.” There’ll be no wedding workout plan for this bride-to-be! (She’s already busy playing tennis, cross country skiing, and running marathons… Phew!)

Now about those wedding plans… Keep in mind that this isn’t the first time Middleton will be in the spotlight in a highly-publicized big day. At 2011’s Royal Wedding, Middleton was the one who took the crown when it came to bridesmaid style in her still-talked about Alexander McQueen white sheath. “I was surprised and still don’t understand it,” the former maid-of-honor said of everyone’s obsession over her figure-hugging dress. So it goes without saying that the world is expecting a lot when it comes to this bride’s big day ensemble.

See More: Alexander McQueen Is Being Sued Over Kate Middleton’s Royal Wedding Dress

So what does Middleton plan to wear come the big day? Even though the one-time tomboy once told her family, “If I had to get married, it would be in my tennis whites — shorts with no pleats or frills,” she admits she’ll probably go with something more traditional. (Like that famous Oscar de la Renta wedding dress her big sister donned, perhaps?) “That was a phase I went through as a little girl and I was having a bit of a battle about wearing a dress,” Middleton said of her previous plan of a tennis whites wedding ensemble. “I wasn’t into dresses as an 8-year-old,” she shared.

We’re already crossing our fingers for another Oscar de la Renta stunner!

If you’re like us, you’re always on the hunt for a good deal. And when it comes to your wedding, the more money you can save (without sacrificing style of course), the better, right? We certainly think so. Of course, one of the most important elements of your big day, the wedding dress, is likely to set you back. Fortunately, we’ve got the inside scoop on how to score a sick deal on the wedding dress of your dreams, courtesy of a few fab bridal salon owners and experts who so graciously let us pick their brains. Here, their tips for getting the best bang for your buck when it comes to your wedding dress.

Shop trunk shows
Stalk your favorite bridal designer on social media to find out where they might be having a pop up trunk show in your area, suggests Lacy Pool, buyer and stylist for Serendipity Bridal in Austin. “Typically, boutiques will extend a discount and often offer free customizations at these, such as true to fit length. This will save you some serious coin with dress alterations.” Lace and embroidered or beaded trim can cost up to $600 to hem, she notes, so if you have the opportunity to cash in on this added bonus during a trunk show, definitely take advantage.

Hit up end of season and sample sales
Divisional Merchandise Manager for Bridal, Lingerie and Flower Girl at David’s Bridal, Lori Conley, tells us one way brides can score a great deal on their dream gown is by shopping end of season styles. “Retailers are looking to make room for their next collection of gowns and will often discount previous season’s looks at a high percentage of the ticket price.” Another way to keep your dream dress under budget is to hit as many sample sales at your favorite stores as you can, says Pool. “Don’t worry if you’re not sample size. Anything too big can always be taken in, and if you’re a bit curvier than the sample, creative seamstresses can work magic by adding fabric, corset backs and other simple solutions to get a great fit!”

Buy during summertime
Psst! We’ll let you in on a little secret brides-to-be — did you know that sample sales are seasonally timed in the summer, which is traditionally a bridal shop’s slowest period? According to Malinda Macari, owner of Your Dream Bridal in Sudbury, MA, it’s true. “Be strategic as to when you buy your dress to take advantage of these discounted collections,” she advises.

See More: How to Get the Custom Wedding Dress of Your Dreams

See if you can purchase the sample
Many stores will sell you their sample piece off the floor, and sometimes at a discount, reveals Carrie Huyett, Designer and Owner of Carrie’s Bridal Collection. “This helps the store move inventory, and you could get a great deal. It also saves you on shipping costs and rush fees.” Speaking of rush fees, she urges brides to always order at least 6-8 months in advance, at a minimum. “If you wait too long, most designers and retailers add on extra costs.”

Can’t snag a dress deal? Consider renting your accessories
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you simply can’t get a decent deal on the wedding dress of your dreams. However, you can cut back in other areas, like the accessories for your gown (which you should calculate into your dress budget anyway). As opposed to purchasing, consider renting items like the veil, jewelry, or a chic headpiece, suggests Brittany Haas, CEO and Founder of Happily Ever Borrowed. That way, you have more wiggle room in your budget to splurge on the dress.

Rent the dress or buy it secondhand
Get last season’s look for way less by either renting your dream wedding dress or purchasing it secondhand (AKA nearly new since it’s only been worn once, right?). “Sites like Borrowing Magnolia, Nearly Newlywed and PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com all offer fabulous deals on bridal gowns,” notes Haas.

Going through a breakup is quite literally one of the most painful experiences one has to go through. There’s simply no disputing it. But sometimes, in the midst of a personal hell storm, a random act of kindness can take the pain away, at least for a little bit. And that’s exactly what one amazing human being did for a woman who’d been recently broken up with — by her fiancé, of all people.

Christina Grady detailed the random act of kindness experience on Facebook saying, “OMG, best story ever… My Capital One card got shut off for suspicious activity when I started to send furniture to a new address. I called and explained to this awesome woman, Tonya, that my fiancé had broken up with me and I’d moved.”

Most customer service reps would probably say they understand and fix the problem, but Tonya is clearly no ordinary employee.

“She was like, ‘Girl, I am giving you 4,500 free miles. Go on vacation. Take so many pictures of yourself all happy and post them all over that Instagram,'” Grady recalled from the conversation. As if that weren’t enough to make Tonya our favorite person like, EVER, she took it upon herself to go above and beyond the call of duty to make Grady feel even better about her current situation — and maybe to make her ex a weeeeee bit jealous.

See More: 5 Signs Jealousy Is Ruining Your Relationship

About five days after that phone call, Grady received a text from her ex stating, “Someone sent you flowers to my house.” Pretty confused as to who would be so “bold” to send flowers to her ex’s house, she decided to pick up the package from his house while he was at work. What happens next will totes bring a smile to your face.

“I open the card, TONYA KYY905 Capitol One!!! She sent me flowers! To my ex fiancé’s house in a sealed card!!! TONYA KYY905, you are a genius and a role model to women looking out for women.”

STANDING OVATION, TONYA. Bravo.

One of the biggest annoyances of being a bridesmaid comes down to one thing and one thing only — how much it costs. As a bridesmaid, you may be asked to pick up the bill for your dress, pre-wedding party decorations, and little items here and there. All of this will add up to most likely more than you ever wanted to spend. Lucky for you, here are seven ways you can save money as a bridesmaid.

1. Book travel ASAP.
When you find out the date of the wedding, start looking into travel deals or set alerts. The faster you look into travel, the more you’ll be able to avoid last minute booking fees or hiked up fares.

2. Share a hotel room.
To easily save some money, ask others in the bridal party if they’d be interested in sharing a hotel room for the wedding. The more people you can share a room with for the night, the less money you’ll end up paying.

3. Skip dress alterations.
Real talk: most likely, you are only going to be wearing your bridesmaid dress for a total of 8-10 hours, and then chance are you may never step foot in it again. If you can avoid doing alterations, you’ll also avoid handing over some serious cash (on top of an already expensive dress).

4. Borrow a pair of shoes.
Some brides opt for all of their brides to wear a certain shoe aesthetic. If the bride has specific shoe requirements and you don’t have any shoes that match what she’d like, see if you can borrow a pair from a friend that match the bride’s reqs. You will only have to wear those shoes for the ceremony and photos. Then, once the reception entrances are done, you can change into something more comfortable of your own.

See More: The Maid of Honor’s Guide to Avoid Going Broke Before the Wedding

5. Do your own hair and makeup.
Even if you’re not a beauty expert, turn to YouTube and spend a few days practicing how to give yourself the perfect wedding updo and makeup application. As long as the bride is okay with you doing both yourself, you’ll save quite a bit of cash.

6. DIY the Bachelorette Party Decorations
When you’re ready to start thinking about hotel room or restaurant décor for the bachelorette party, look into some easy DIY craft decorations that you and the other bridesmaids can easily put together yourselves.

7. Look at The Registry Right Now
The longer you wait to check out the couple’s wedding registry, the fewer the gift options left to purchase. As soon as the couple puts up their registry, start browsing and purchasing items that are in your gift-giving price range.

Jen Glantz is a “Professional Bridesmaid” and the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire. She’s the author of All My Friends Are Engaged and frequently wears old bridesmaid dresses to the grocery store and on first dates.

After that first year of marriage, a couple is bound to have learned a lot about one another. Sure, you obviously knew of the ins and outs of each other’s personalities and quirks before tying the knot, but there’s always more to learn, right? Coming up on their first anniversary, power couple Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello are no exception. In fact, during last night’s Emmy Awards, Vergara shared what Manganiello has learned since they tied the knot back in November.

How has it been almost been a year already since these two said “I do?” In November of last year, the gorgeous duo jetted off to the Breakers Resort in Palm Beach, Florida with 400 (!) of their family and friends for a wedding weekend straight out of a fairytale — a very, very expensive fairytale. After kicking off the weekend with a pre-wedding parties that included private bungalows by the pool and extravagant dinners, the Modern Family star and the Magic Mike hunk officially tied the knot in a flower-filled ceremony. (Seriously, it was like a damn forest in there in case you don’t recall…)

Since their opulent big day, the two have surprisingly been keeping a rather low profile — enjoying that honeymoon phase, we’ve assume. But now with almost a year of marriage under their belt, these two may no longer be toting newlywed status, but they seem just as in love as ever. But what’s their takeaway after almost 365 days together?

See More: 7 Couples Share The Adorable Ways They Celebrated Their First Anniversaries

At the 2016 Emmy Awards last night, E!’s Giuliana Rancic caught up with Vergara on the red carpet and asked the Columbian bombshell what she’s learned about Italian men since tying the knot with Manganiello. “Hmm, I think he has learned more about Colombians than what I have learned about Italians!” Vergara joked in reply.

Yep, that sounds about right!

Losing weight is a process. It takes time, hard work, and yes, some sacrifices. You have to train consistently, maintain a balanced diet (and ultimately eat fewer calories), and make healthy lifestyle changes including getting enough sleep and reducing stress in your life. When you commit to losing weight you’re also committing to doing something good for yourself, and each step is another chance to do just that. And all of those steps add up to big results.

While there isn’t a quick fix for lasting weight-loss results, you can make sure the efforts you’re extending are the most effective things you can be doing. We tapped a few trainers to share the best fitness tips they share with their weight-loss clients.

1. Be consistent.
Losing weight isn’t just a physical transformation, and the process can be stressful emotionally, too. “Sometimes when people feel they aren’t losing weight as quickly as they would like, they get upset and can lose motivation. Everyone’s body is different and for some people it takes a lot longer to lose weight than others,” explains Tamara Pridgett, personal trainer specializing in sports performance and pre-/post-natal training. “I truly believe that if you are consistent and being honest about whatever program you’re using the results will happen.” Set realistic goals about your weight loss and continue to stick with your training even if you aren’t seeing immediate results. “Don’t beat yourself and stay true to your training,” Pridgett adds.

2. Don’t take on too much too quickly.
“Too often when you are trying to lose weight, clients will go 0-60 miles per hour, taking on too much too soon,” explains fitness expert Astrid Swan. A good starting point is four workouts per week. “You do not get overwhelmed, you do not burn out, and you can move things around to accomplish the goal,” Swan explains. And when you’re not in the gym, make sure you’re doing things you enjoy, she adds. “It is not about spending hours in the gym, it is about training smart and efficiently. Make sure the four days that you commit to your workout, you commit to yourself and you really put in the work.”

See More: 21 Pairs Of Workout Leggings That Are Comfy And Stylish

3. Train smart, train hard.
Grab something heavy and carry it — it’s a simple move you can do that has significant weight-loss benefits, explains Ashleigh Kast certified strength and conditioning coach, track coach, and founder of Sophisticated Strength. “At Drive495, my clients do heavy carries every session. Taking some heavy stuff for a walk has multiple benefits including increased stability (think core strength!) and increased fat loss. Additionally, your grip will get super strong for heavy traditional lifts down the line like deadlifts and pull-ups.” Of course you want to do heavy carries the right way; here’s a quick video showing a two-arm carry. “Choose heavy weights, something you wouldn’t be able to do much with except walk, and walk for 30 seconds then break for one minute. Complete as many rounds as you can,” Kast explains.

4. Continue to challenge yourself.
“A lot of people have the misconception that just because they want something it should happen instantly and be easy. For most people, especially when they are trying to lose weight, that’s not the case,” explains Pridgett. So understand that the journey comes with hard work and try to consistently challenge yourself along the way — that’s how you’ll start to see the results you want. “Evaluate the work your doing daily or weekly to make sure that you’re challenging yourself. If you’re still using 10-pound dumbbells for bicep curls even though it’s easy for you, it’s time to make that change. Nothing is always going to be easy, but allowing yourself to be as good as you can is so worth it.”

See More: Try This 5-Minute Abs Workout For A Spectacular Core

5. But don’t stress too much about your workouts.
Exercising consistently is important, no one is going to argue that. But, if you miss a session because you have to travel for work or can’t fit it into your already busy schedule, that’s OK. You’re still on track! “Losing weight is about 85 percent diet,” explains NYC-based trainer Diana Mitrea, co-founder of Stronger With Time. “Focus on creating meal plans that work for you and squeeze your workouts in when you get the chance. Don’t disregard a day and give up on your plan just because you missed your workout.”

6. And make sure you’re taking time to recover.
“I find that people get sometimes get competitive with friends and family about the amount of times they’ve worked out in a day or week,” explains Pridgett. It’s great to be proud of the time you’re spending at the gym, but don’t let someone else’s fitness program interfere with yours. Every body is different and everyone has different goals that require different training regimes. When you’re trying to lose weight it’s important to take time to recover fully — so don’t feel bad for taking a day or two off! “It’s so imperative that you allow your body to rest to prevent injuries and to ensure you’re workouts are being executed at a quality level. Remember quality over quantity,” she adds.

See More: 19 Exercises For A Butt That Just Won’t Quit

This article originally appeared on SELF.

Your love has gotten down on one knee and popped the big question. You’ve booked the date, and your gown is almost ready to go. Now it’s time to get the celebrations started!
When your loved ones are planning your bridal shower, we can think of nothing more spectacular than being surrounded by your favorite guys and gals to celebrate in the gorgeous Georgia sunshine. With lush greenery, delicious menus, and flowers surrounding your group, these venues will put any Atlanta bride at ease and — allowing you a moment to feel excited for what’s to come in the midst of your planning. Each venue will feel far away from it all, while staying close to home.

Wahoo! Grill
The large, manicured, cottage-style garden at Wahoo! Grill is an ideal venue, no matter your budget or time of year. In the warmer months, the blooming flowers and lush landscape mean that no decorations are necessary for the space to feel full of beauty. In the colder months, a glass-enclosed room offers an evergreen backdrop, meaning that you can feel close to nature from the comfort of the indoors. When you book your bridal shower with the team, they will send you a checklist and will follow up regularly to ensure that every detail is taken care of to make the event one to remember.

Canoe
While Canoe is host to a wide variety of spaces within the venue, one favorite locale for a garden bridal shower is their secluded, covered patio. With space for 15-20 guests, your intimate bridal shower will be hosted overlooking acres of private gardens with a unique, calming view of the Chattahoochee River in the background. The food is made fresh with local ingredients daily, making their seasonal menu extra delicious with a little southern flare. The wonderful staff at Canoe will even customize a limited menu for you and your guests to enjoy, complete with your names and date published on the top. This customized, picturesque venue would be a delightful start to your wedding festivities and will keep your guests excited about the celebrations to come. Read real brides’ reviews here!

See More: Send Your Bridal Shower Guests Home With The Perfect Favor With The Help Of Our Favorite Local Vendors

JCT. Kitchen & Bar
JCT. Kitchen & Bar hosts a warm, inviting space that is a mixture of both tradition and trend. After walking through the historic indoor space, with original floors, exposed beams, vintage chairs, and a classic horseshoe-shaped bar, you will find yourself on their beautiful covered patio overlooking their lush courtyard. Set as a banquet table, you and your guests will feel instantly like family. Focusing on local, nutritious menu items, such as a delectable shrimp & avocado salad. However, the entire party will appreciate the taste of fun, southern flare delivered with every dish. Read real brides’ reviews here!

Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails
Milton’s acre can actually be described as a large, literally acre-size garden. Hosting your bridal shower in the space where much of your food is actually grown will make you feel like you’re relaxing in peaceful wine country. Just a short walk from the restaurant itself, Milton’s suggests using their farm tables (seat up to 30, but you may bring in more if necessary) and serving their delicious, on-site grown food family style to create a comfortable ambiance in the heart of the city. As the Georgia sun shines down on you and your guests while you eat and catch up amongst the vines of vegetables, it will be easy to separate yourself from the hustle and bustle of wedding planning. Read real brides’ reviews here!

Not sold on any of these venues? Find the perfect location for your gorgeous garden party on our Local Vendors page!

Endorphins, health, confidence — the incredible benefits of exercising are endless. Besides being fun (sometimes), it helps you relieve stress, try new things and become an overall happier person.

But we’re not kidding when we say working out benefits all aspects of your life, including the love department! We chatted with sex experts to learn exactly how working out can make your sex life hotter, longer and better. So grab your partner and read up on these tips. The two of you will be booking a class in no time.

Helps you last longer
Sex can be heart-racing in more ways than one, but feeling out of shape (and breath) isn’t exactly a great feeling when you’re trying to be sexy in bed. Working out already increases your endurance when running and stamina when climbing those stairs, but it can help you last longer in bed, too. If you want to worry less about wearing yourself out, try focusing more on cardio exercises. Simply put, a stronger body that is used to cardio can handle more activity and, therefore, won’t get tired out as easily. Meaning you two can keep going all night long.
Try: Cycling

Becomes more adventurous
So you want to try a little, er, more in bed? Not a problem, unless you’re muscles are feeling tight and your legs just won’t bend that way. You can’t exactly try new positions if your body won’t physically let you, but don’t give up just yet. Sex expert Dr. Nikki Martinez says to “focus on muscle building and flexibility to help you do whatever either of you wants to try without issue.” Exercises that help you stretch and warm up the muscles can increase flexibility and make it that much easier to go that extra mile with your partner.
Try: Yoga

Connects you to your partner
Believe it or not, exercise can be an intimate setting. You’re sweaty, vulnerable and, let’s face it, not very composed. Letting a partner in on that experience can do wonders for your relationship in and outside of the bedroom. You’ll both get to see a side of each other that you may never have witnessed before, but we promise, it’ll only bring you closer together. Find a form of physical activity that you both enjoy and try doing it together. It’ll help build your relationship and make sex a much more intimate, emotional experience. Plus, who doesn’t need another date night idea?
Try: Running class

Increases your confidence
Feeling sexy shouldn’t just be limited to the bedroom. When you’re feeling your hottest self, others see that you are, too, and exercise can help you achieve that anywhere. Whether you’re shaking your booty in dance class or twisting your limbs in ways you never knew you could in yoga, find what moves help you feel your sexiest. Striking a pose in classes like dance or pole help you channel the inner goddess that you are not only in class, but later that night, too. And when you’re feeling sexy, your partner won’t need any convincing either.
Try: Dance cardio

Makes it hotter
Don’t forget: sex is exercise. If we want to keep it feeling good for both ourselves and our partner, the muscles we need for it should be worked and toned. Exercises that work to strengthen the pelvic muscle, like kegels, are definitely key. But you don’t have to limit yourself to just that. Sex expert Laurel House says, “Core exercises like Pilates, sit-ups and strength training effectively strengthens and stimulates the pelvic muscles, helping to heat things up and even intensify an orgasm.” Keep up those workouts and you’ll not only be more toned, you’ll also improve your sex life. Now all those bridges make sense, huh?
Try: Pilates class

Helps keep your hormones in check
There’s a reason we always feel good after a workout: endorphins. Exercise helps release these “happy” hormones, giving you a natural high and feel-good vibes. And when you’re in a good mood, your body is too — meaning you’re helping rev up your sex drive. Do you and your partner both need a little boost? Try taking a class together. You both will release endorphins and naturally will associate these happy feelings with each other. What better way to bond in bed than already feeling like your partner helped you feel good?
Try: Any class!

This post was originally published on ClassPass’s blog, The Warm Up by Danielle Page. ClassPass is a monthly membership that connects you to more than 8,500 of the best fitness studios worldwide. Learn more here.

See More: 6 Surprising Benefits of Sleeping Naked

No matter how common mental illness may be, there’s still a stigma attached to it. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 Americans experience mental illness in a given year.

For me, it felt as though it had happened overnight, in an instant my day-to-day just became too much to handle, but in reality it had developed over many months and I was just too focused on pretending that it was all okay. I told myself, I can handle this.

Let’s backtrack to half a year earlier. I had just begun the job I had been working towards for the last few years, a corporate fashion job for a world-renowned department store. I had the opportunity to work in the photo studio assisting in organizing the photo shoots for more than 180 vendors for their website. It was a perfect opportunity to start my career in the fashion industry.

I stepped into my office, where I was greeted by empty desks and a few girls with headphones plugged into their ears and eyes glued to their computers. Uncomfortably, I sat in the lobby and attempted to make eye contact with every girl who walked through the door to see if they would give me some idea of where I was assigned.

It was a good 20 minutes before, serendipitously, my long-time friend walked through the doors and greeted me with a smile and explained that we would be working together on the same team. I was lucky to have her show me the ropes; many of the girls in my position had little to no training and would troubleshoot what their job even was for weeks. After a few weeks of disarray, I grasped the role and flourished in it. I felt accomplished. I saw my future clear as day and I was eager to rise in this company.

As months went by, I became more comfortable in my role. Things were going well until one day, when my friend whom I had been working with sent me a text message that read: They’re moving me to the shoe department. I didn’t realize how drastically this simple change would alter my job. A lovely girl who was promoted from my role to this new role was replacing my friend.

Only a few weeks into the job, she was overwhelmed and in over her head with the amount of work that was required from her. Although my manager stepped in to help, we all were working longer hours than we were used to, skipping lunches and feeling as though coming into work meant endless stress. The various teams and vendors we worked with grew frustrated with my new partner, even though she was given tasks that she had never been trained in. The days were long and horribly stressful, but I just kept telling myself it would be worth it. I can do this.

One day, my manager announced that she would be leaving the company at the end of the week. I began to panic. My partner and I would be left to handle this disaster with no support. A week after my manager had left, my partner also announced that she would be leaving the company.

For weeks, I was responsible for all the roles of my job, my partner’s job and my manager’s role. All roles in which I had not had training in. Many buyers, stylists and vendors were getting frustrated, as they were unable to understand why my company had not hired replacements for my team. I was in over my head; I had three roles, only one of which I had any training in. I told myself that they would see my work ethic, and all the stress I was going through would be worth it.

I couldn’t sleep at night, as I would have panic attacks about the amount of work I had waiting for me. I would skip breakfast because I never believed I had time to eat it. I would be afraid to leave my computer to go buy lunch, as there were hundreds of urgent emails rushing in that I wouldn’t have been able to keep up with if I left for even 15 minutes. I needed that time to work. With little sleep, rarely eating and being overworked, it was a recipe for disaster.

After about a month, they had hired someone new for the role above mine who would start in two weeks. Although I was thankful for the new partner, I would now have to train her in our department, as well as get through all my own work. I stared at my email inbox, and watched one email after another come in, each one more urgent than the last.

I began to hyperventilate; I wasn’t able to feel my body. I would try to write emails and my hands were shaking. Tears welled up, and I felt completely worthless. Anxiety rushed over me. Days went by where my anxiety attacks continued. Colleagues would come by and ask if I was okay. I would nod my head yes silently, but I clearly was not.

Feeling anxious and suddenly deeply depressed, I took a Monday off for a mental health day to meet with a psychiatrist. He went through a series of questions that showed that I was suffering from severe anxiety and depression. I felt as though I had lost all self worth.

I went back into work on Tuesday morning. I opened my email to 856 new emails. I began to have another anxiety attack, and I took the pills that my psychiatrist had prescribed me. They drained me. I felt a wave of unbearable sadness and panic come over me. I walked out of my office and onto the street in hysterics. I called my psychiatrist in a panic and I explained what I was feeling.

I told him that if I quit, I’d be a failure; but if I don’t quit, I don’t think I will be able to live another day. He told me that it was okay to not be okay, and that quitting would not make me a failure, it would make me a survivor.

That was the day I gave my notice. My newly hired manager asked if I would stay on for at least a month to help train her and my new partner. No, I told her, it was not okay for me to stay longer than two weeks.

I was not okay.

After my last day, I traveled for a few weeks and I began doing yoga and Pilates nearly every day, and all those days that I felt weak and hopeless began to feel like a memory. During this time, I also transitioned to becoming vegan. I realized that this company abused me and I never wanted to do that to anyone.

Becoming vegan was a way to remind myself to always be compassionate to all living things, because life is precious and should be treated like so. I took care of myself and learned to love myself once again through healthy living. I began working for an athletic wear company where I was respected, loved and appreciated. In the past year, I have grown and changed in more ways than I could have imagined and am discovering a healthy self.

Anxiety had taken over my mind and body, and even though it was hard to leave behind a job I believed I wanted, I realized that my self worth and well-being was more important. If I had only accepted that I was not okay, and given myself time for self-care and reached out for help earlier, perhaps I would have been able to manage my stress in a healthier way.

It’s okay to not be okay.

You are worth too much to accept that being unhappy, anxious or depressed is okay. If you are feeling this way, be open about it with yourself and those who love you. Seek help to find healthy ways to cope with what you are going through and know that you are never alone. Many people struggle with the same emotions you are going through, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel if you put your health first and seek the help you may need.

This post was originally published on ClassPass’s blog, The Warm Up by Danielle Page. ClassPass is a monthly membership that connects you to more than 8,500 of the best fitness studios worldwide. Learn more here.

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