Night out anxiety

[SummerRoberts]

I've been suffering with bad anxiety recently and just wanted some encouraging words.
It's my friends birthday coming up and she's planned a night out this Saturday to celebrate.
I've said I'll go as she's a good friend and another of my oldest friends will be there too and it will be so nice to catch up with her.
But all I can think is how much I don't want to go. The thought of getting dressed up and going out is overwhelming for me and I don't even know why. I've cancelled on this friend a few times for nights out and I feel awful every time I do, but I just felt I couldn't go.
I don't want to cancel this time. I want to celebrate my friends birthday with her but the thought of being out on a Saturday night is really making me anxious. I don't even know why.
How can I make myself feel excited for this night out? I can't cancel on my friend again, especially on her birthday.

Can you confide in one of them and maybe they could go outside with you for a breath of fresh air if you feel you need a break from a busy place?

Poor you.

I suffered with this when I was a bit younger. Can you pinpoint what exactly that makes you anxious about it? Is it crowded bars? Alcohol-fuelled people? Getting home? Getting separated from friends?

For me it was most of the above. My friends weren't very understanding and I probably annoyed them all loads of times cancelling at the last minute. For me, it helped when I had a clear idea about where we would be going, who was going and how I was going to get home. It was the unknowns I found it hard to deal with.

Does your friend know about how bad your anxiety's been recently?