Work Function Looming

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So, I'm feeling frazzled by a work function on tomorrow night.
I'm going through some changes at home which is making my performance sucky at work anyway as everything seems to require 10X the effort. My boss brought tickets to an Awards Dinner ages ago and like most things I agreed to go along with the intention of coming up with some excuse as to why I won't be there, opening up about my social anxiety is not something I do willingly and he's a hard bugger to read in terms of reaction.

This is the first time I've gone 'stuff it, i'll tell him the truth' so I did - i had a private word to him about feeling incredibly anxious about going, explaining that the volume of people, sound and unfamilarity of the setting might upset me greatly so I didn't think I'd go. He was pretty calm and gave me a dad response of 'leave it to me'. What?

So he came back to me the next day and said he'd talked to his partner about it and she's willing to buddy up with me for the night because they really think I should go & be part of the team ect.
Betrayal much, what's he blabbing to her for? Anyways, I appriciate he looked for a solution, but i felt so backed into a corner I just nodded yes sir thank you sir and now am obligated to go!

1) part of me is pleased it's been taken seriously and not just as a form of attention seeking, I've had a chat to her and she seems to understand it (she's a teacher).
2)part of me feels foolish for saying anything, how dare I admit I can't do something! due to home/relationship conditioning.
3)I don't know her very well apart from how she likes her coffee. How do I buddy up with someone I don't know even on a co-worker level? That in itself makes the night feel even more unpredictable.....
4)In the past I have used alcohol to cope but I decided to stop drinking (binging) at the start of the year so can't even lean on that familar buddy.

This just seems to reflect another experience I will have to try and muddle through due to people-pleasing, any advice as to what to do if it gets too much? I do have a friend on stand by to pick me up if i call it quits.

I really hate work functions as well and usually try and avoid them whenever possible but I can think of a few things that may help:

1) I know you've said you're on a dry period. Good, as drinking, social anxiety and the bosses wife could be a bad mix.
2) Try and leave a little early. Bosses like it if you at least try to make these events. Headaches are a good excuse - you'll be squinting because of the lights and noise anyway. Staying away from alcohol is also a sign that you could have a headache Make sure that people notice you popping a couple of paracetamol during the evening.
3) At the beginning of the evening, explain to your bosses wife that because of the headache, you may be a little quiet.
4) Try to minimise the small-talk (because of the headache) and instead focus on people-watching which is way more fun and less tiring than talking about the weather and other people's children.

You'll be a trooper for going along when you're not feeling well and people won't expect too much of you. Headaches are great!

Thank you so much for the kind advice liveandrew, I took some painkillers with me along with a few things stashed in my bag which comfort me. It was unbelievably loud and camera flashes everywhere, someone kept getting the power point slides wrong so somewhat poorly organised but I'm glad I went to support the team. Back to a quiet stress free home and at least I won't be the only quiet one at work tomorrow - there's going to be some hangovers!