Art Markman, Ph.D. YouBeauty Psychology Advisor replied about 1 year ago:
Social anxiety is a difficult problem.
The first step is to overcoming it is to figure out why you are feeling this way. Have you had bad interactions with people in the past? Are there people in your life who make you feel like you don't get along well with others?
Often, you may end up feeling worse about your interactions with new people than you should. You are worried about little things like the exact way that you phrased something to someone else or a particular joke you made that didn't get the reaction you wanted. We all make little social mistakes, but most other people don't notice them. So, it is important to relax and realize that other people are looking at you as a whole person.
It can be difficult to overcome these feelings on your own, though, particularly if you are not completely sure where they are coming from. Consider looking for a counselor to help you through. Clinical Social Workers who take clients are often good at this, because they look at all of your social interactions to help you improve. It is a big step to ask someone for help, but one that can really benefit you in the long-run.
