I completely relate!! I often try to find some other explanation (maybe I'm just tired, maybe I'm getting sick, it's too hot in here, etc.), it's all in my imagination (maybe it's anxiety or stress?), convince myself the symptoms aren't bad enough to require Epi (despite my action plan saying otherwise - it's just a runny nose and stomach pains), or I'm too spaced out to know what is happening. My cognitive abilities decline rapidly in a reaction. It happens all. the. time. -- too frequently for me to admit. (Though significantly less now that I work from home.)
But then I look back and realize it was a reaction, I should have Epi'd and strive to do better next time. It is not so clear cut and easy to recognize as it may seem. Is every itchy or tight throat a reaction? No, but how do I know for sure? Are those hives from contact, ingestion, or something else entirely (like heat or sweat)? Or, worse yet - Am I thinking this way logically or because a reaction is distorting my mental ability? I often rely on someone else to go through my action plan and ask me questions - because despite being mentally compromised I will always answer questions truthfully. I find that is my best tool in reaction assessment.
I guess all we can do is keep our action plan handy, refer to it often, review it with people close to us, and stick to it. (Still harder than it sounds.) We also need to forgive ourselves for mistakes, learn from those mistakes, and try to be realistic.
Best of luck, notashrimpwimp. It looks like we're on this journey together.