Social Anxiety, Edibles, and Someone Else’s Family: A Wedding Weekend Survival Guide (Part 1)

Subtitle: Trusting yourself when your brain would rather hide in the car

Let me set the scene.

We’re currently in the car, halfway to a wedding where I’ll know approximately three people — two if we’re counting me and my wife. The bride is my wife Jen’s former step-niece (did you follow that?). The family tree is more like a spiderweb, but this amazing young woman still considers Jen her aunt. So here we are, dressed up, driving toward a room full of people who mostly don’t know I exist.

And if I’m being honest, I feel like a tag-a-long.

Cue the anxiety.

Not the “oh I’m nervous” kind — I mean the full-on what if I say something weird and they all stare at me kind. The kind where I rehearse basic conversations in my head and still imagine somehow failing. You know, fun stuff.

So I did what I’ve learned can help in moderation: I took an edible.

Let’s pause here and get real.

This isn’t a glamorized coping mechanism. It’s not the answer for everyone. But for me, it’s a tool I sometimes use to soften the overthinking, quiet the “you don’t belong here” soundtrack, and help me… exist in the room. Not hide in a corner. Not bail early. Just be.

Because here’s the thing: I want to grow.

And growth? It’s not always some epic breakthrough. Sometimes it’s just showing up — heart pounding, voice a little shaky — and trying to trust yourself.

That’s what The Purple Owl is all about.

Starting the conversation. Rebuilding the trust.

Even when the conversation is small talk with strangers.

Even when the trust you’re rebuilding is with your own nervous system.

Tomorrow, I’ll update this post with Part 2: What actually happened. Did I survive? Did I overshare? Did I make a new friend or weird someone out in the buffet line?

Stay tuned, my awkward butterflies. This isn’t just a wedding. It’s a test run for self-trust in real time.

By: Jess E