Struggling to be sociable after the pandemic verging on social anxiety. Anyone else?

[HelloMrsHappy]

As above.
I have few friends - many are long distance. I keep in touch by phone and email mainly. In some ways it suits me as I know I'm an introvert BUT I do need real life friends and to meet them. But since the pandemic I've hardly seen anyone as my DP has cancer and we have had to be really careful.

I've become very anxious about seeing anyone and sometimes even picking up the phone to friends I've not see for ages. I get quite worked up the day before about meeting people (my own family - parents and adult DCs live away so not much contact there at the moment.) I've also stopped work partly to spend more time with DP.

On the outside I appear confident, but in the run up to phone calls, seeing anyone or even Zoom calls, I feel really anxious.

Why?

Not me but DD has your level of social anixety and has been put on meds. She has had to take a year out of uni:( Try to work up to it slowly? She was an extrovert before. She is easing back into things by seeing one person at a time.

I think it is all very normal.