First of all, I don't think that wanting attention is such a bad thing, it's very human, and I don't know that this motivation applies when one is speaking the truth. If you want attention so bad you make up stuff, that's another issue.

I have found over many years in T that telling the truth sooner rather than later is much better, it leads to earlier healing and it avoids the inevitable problems of avoiding. But I also understand that telling is in part about giving up your power (you give information away, you reduce your own power) and you have to be ready and the telling has to feel within your control. For me, usually one pass where it's obvious to him and me that I'm not telling right now is usually enough for me to feel enough in control to bring it up the next time or two.