Attention anxiety - bridal shower

My friend isn't having a shower for this reason. My suggestion is to do something that relaxes you beforehand. I lounged around in the hotel with my ladies before heading home, taking a long shower and getting ready. I allowed myself a good chunk of time to I could get ready leisurely to stay relaxed and they kept the games rolling so there wasn't an awkward moment. Have fun!

I think I will need to do something relaxing that morning! Maybe get my nails done. Definitely have a mimosa.

I'll be taking some Xanax. I have awful anxiety so I'll be needing my meds. I plan on drinking wine also to relax

My shower is in a few weeks and I'm not a fan of attention, either. One thing I'm hoping will help is getting a blowout that morning- it's a bit frivolous, but hair that looks good always makes me feel more confident!

I am the same exact way! I had mine this past weekend and it wasn't that bad actually but I had my FH come. We invited men and women and just had food and chatted. It was lots of fun and totally worth it. We got so much stuff but most importantly we got to hangout with our friends and family!

@AG13 That's a great idea, I wish we had planned on a shower where men could attend also. I know having FH there would make me feel better.

I am feeling the exact same way! I am terribly shy and I prefer not to be the center of attention. I feel like it's going to be agony to sit in front of people and open gifts. I am going to have to do this 2 times because FH's aunts are throwing me a shower on 3/13 and then my godmother/aunt and grandmother are throwing me another one for my side of the family on 4/10. Luckily, there will be alcohol at the April shower (my MOH has already promised to make sure my mimosa is always full). I am fairly certain there won't be alcohol at the March shower because it's an "English tea party" theme. I'm planning on going to get my hair cut and styled beforehand so I can (hopefully) relax a little.

@FutureMrs.G I might end up with a second shower too. I have a feeling my co-workers are planning on throwing me a mini shower at work... That would really make me nervous!

I think I'll definitely need to do relaxing things all day leading up to the shower. Hopefully I'll be able to sleep in that morning.

I am the same way too! We are going to have like a trivia or bingo or some silly game set up for the same time as gifts to try and take away some of the attention from me. I get super uncomfortable being the center of attention, and I usually end up crying.

I completely understand! I get super uncomfortable on my birthday and I hate having happy birthday sang to me and opening gifts.

Btw i've been to lots of showers where they dont open the gifts while the guest are there. Lots of people find it boring and it can take alot of time depending on how many people show up. You can replace it with games that take attention away from you. I would ask the people throwing your shower, tell them how anxious you feel.

@SoonToBeStoddie ugh, I'm afraid I might tear up and I really don't want to! I just get so flustered.

@Beka I am the same way--I haven't had a birthday party in years. And I've told my parents countless times when we go out to eat for my birthday not to make the wait staff sing to me.

I got uncomfortable opening my birthyday present in front of FMIL... It's just awkward!

Have a few drinks first? Lol. I'm the same way. It was so awkward during my baby shower but at least I can have a drink to relax me for the bridal shower.

My maid of honor and I were just talking about this!

This is why I just mail registry items to people's houses.

Yep! I was just thinking about this yesterday. My shower is 3/19 and I'm just dreading the gift part. I wish we could all just get together for food and drinks. I always feel odd even opening gifts on Christmas and usually people are mingling and not paying attention. But at my shower it will be all eyes on me. And I feel like I'm so awkward, like I try so hard to be enthusiastic that it comes off as fake. Ugh.

Ashley - What a coincidence...my coworkers just started hinting that they want to throw one for me too. Ugh... I think the coworker one will be even more uncomfortable for me than either of the family ones. My office is like a high school - there are "cliques" - so the thought of having these judgmental women staring at me makes me feel sick. I know there is a good chunk of people who are very happy for me, but those 3 or 4 girls (I call them girls even though they're all older than me because they don't act like they are) will make me even more uncomfortable than I already will be with all of the attention on me.

@Jennifer I may need to! Lol

@EmilyT I know, I love just mailing gifts directly to the bride and groom.

@Kaylie That's what always worries me about having the attention on me! I'm really low key, so I don't always come off as really excited about something even when I am. I'm afraid my reactions to things (gifts) disappoint people.

@FutureMrs.G my co-workers are all nice for the most part. There are probably 2-3 who would make me uncomfortable. But a work shower would make me uneasy because I don't really know any of them very well.

I'm right there with you! I HATE being the center of attention! Mimosas's will be served!

@FMG I had a tea party for my bridal shower and my bridesmaids made a peach iced tea with champagne.

Try to relax and have a good time! Maybe if you know certain friends or relatives have something special going on in their lives (new baby, volunteering, interesting job) you can use some of the time to ask about those things. "Hey so and so, I heard that you went on vacation to ____. What was your favorite place that you saw while you were there?"

That way they feel appreciated that you're interested in their milestones/interests and some of the attention of others will be directed to them for a while. Win/win!

Edited for: Bad grammar.....

My shower is on the same day! Lol. I'm nervous and anxious too. I had a difficult time at my baby shower but go through because I kept thinking "this is for the baby". But this time it's all on me. None of my blood related family will be there, just in-laws (my family lives in ct and ca) so it's even more nerve-wracking especially since they all have big personalities. My maid of honor is really sweet and good at picking up when I'm uncomfortable so I know she'll have my back. It's good to have a bridesmaid/family member to keep the mood light, crack a few jokes so it sheds just a bit of the attention off of you without taking away from your day. Best of luck!