Wedding Reception Advice - Survival Guide

[MikeyT]

Have a wedding reception to attend this weekend and with the Anxiety back, I have those thoughts creeping back in, the what if type.
Anyone have any tips and strategies on getting through the evening, which doesn't include getting hammered (I don't drink).
Thanks All.

[Oosh]

Look past it to something more calming and enjoyable. Whenever you notice yourself ruminating about the reception remember to look further ahead to the other thing.

What things comfort you in a more relaxing part of your week ? Try and incorporate into or have them with you at the wedding reception. How can you make a comfortable little cocoon for yourself at the reception ?

Who are you comfortable with ? The time you do spend socialising try and be around them.

Give yourself a reason for an early exit and plan out the time you're there with the above.

Can totally relate. I hate things like this too.

[strongerthananxiety]

Turn the what if thoughts into so what. Most of what we worry about does not happen anyways. We stress ourselves out for nothing. These thoughts are more magnified during anxiety. The only thoughts that matter are the ones we put meaning to. I suffered with Generalized Anxiety for years until I learned how to recover. You might have thoughts but you do not need to analyze them or talk about it with yourself.

Dean

[MikeyT]

Its not that I hate the event, it's my sisters second wedding, she actually got married in Australia at Christmas, so this is like a belated wedding reception.

Its that thought of being anxious during the evening, that is making me feel slightly anxious and edgy all this week. I am in a blip at the moment and on an increase in meds, so not feeling at my strongest.

My partner says I am pre-empting it, but I struggle to turn those thoughts around and some of them are not even a conscious thought.
My logical brain doesn't seem to communicate with that part of my brain to tell it to behave.

[KeeKee]

Although I have no advice to give I'm at a wedding In April and feel terrified. It's the first I've ever been to and like you, I do not drink. I know only the person getting married and am useless with people even when I do know them. I don't know how to act either, do I act all excited, even if I'm not? (I'm never excited). I really feel for you. Although my worry isn't so much getting anxious, it's the fact I can no longer interact with people without feeling like I'm going to break down and cry!

[Oosh]

Well then practice calming yourself down so you know that whatever happens you have the tools to calm yourself and change how you feel.

Try this - picture a wedding, you're anxious, it's all going wrong = feelings of anxiety.

Picture this - you're at a wedding, something happened and really hit your funny spot and you just couldn't stop laughing. Others saw you laughing and they couldn't stop laughing either, like it was contagious. Afterwards you were really enjoying yourself and enjoyed the company of some of the really likeable people there. = light hearted, humorous relaxed, enjoyable feelings.

When you're there you can take a moment and focus on things that make you feel better. You can be anywhere you want whilst being there. You can be remembering past holidays, partners, anything. Your body is there but your mind doesn't have to be.

I used it on a brain scan the other year. Visualised I was under a car instead.

Practice controlling what you focus on and calming yourself.

If you knew you had the tools to relax you when you're there the anticipatory anxiety may drop significantly.

There's always the toilet too if you are getting a bit stressed by it all. Go walkabout, potter about. Say dodgy belly, anything. I doubt anyone will be that aware of what you're up to most of the time.

Give yourself these reasons why it'll be ok and try not to keep focusing on that nightmare scenario.