You might try soaking your brush in a coffee mug filled with hot water while you shower. Just turn it upside down to drain, and then make lather. Are you using shaving cream or soap, and which brand? If you're using a hard milled soap (like Williams) you can run the hot water in the mug with the soap. Soft milled soaps (like Classic Shaving) don't take kindly to this treatment.

Try raising the spine of the razor about two spine widths off of your face. This should give you around a 20 degree angle, which is about optimum for shaving.

Just be patient, be mindful, and go slow.