Anyone got any advice on social anxiety

[JKDcot]

I used to be a sociable and quite chatty person. Post Covid / mask wearing and being stuck behind a computer, I’ve lost my ability to chill and just chat to people. I feel really self conscious, constantly lick my lips or fidget and just wish to be behind a screen where I feel safer

I don’t know why this has happened. I have lost my confidence and feel so self conscious. I want to be able to relax and just chat normally. I seem to be fine on the phone, it’s just when people are staring at my face I get all weird.

anyone got any advice?

Baby steps. Ask the cashier in the supermarket how they are, talk about the weather to someone in the bus queue, compliment a colleague on their new coat/shoes, etc. If you can (and I know it's difficult) try to forget about yourself and concentrate on the person you're talking to - most people are happy to talk about themselves and will naturally ask you similar questions. You're out of practice, which is understandable, so try to ease yourself back into the social swing of gentle conversation.

I’m the same OP. It’s not the first time I’m losing social confidence so I always get it back by more and more exposure. And I also like to listen to other people’s small talk and repeat particularly good phrases I like and take genuine interest in other persons reply. Good luck. Social anxiety sucks xx

Thank you so much for your kind advice I’ll definitely try it
for some reason if I’m out walking with someone or they’re not looking at my face I feel fine. It’s just when I’m just 121 or someone is talking directly at me and I feel really self conscious.
its so horrible as then you can’t concentrate on what they’re saying and also I feel like I ramble.
I know in my mind what I want to say it just doesn’t come out right

I have the exact same issue, what i usually do if im feeling particularly uncomfortable with someone looking at me i try to redirect their attention to something else and chat about that so i dont get overwhelmed then ease myself back into the conversation. Its obviously not a permanent solution but definitely helps if im getting too uncomfortable