Social phobia was the thing that defined me, from the age of 7, until my daughter was born. I was (and still am on occasion) selectively mute, paralysed by fear - are they going to laugh at me or shake their heads or talk about me..? I'm not paranoid, I'm just very aware that this is what has happened to me, many times. The phobia's still there, in the background, but I don't let it take over any more. However, I've not worked since my daughter was born, so I don't have the same pressures to interact as I had. Interactions are on my terms now, except if I get an invitation to a social event or have to go to a funeral, etc. Social phobia for me has actually resulted in me being avoidant and I tick all the boxes for avoidant personality disorder.
Strangely, I've been told that I come across as confident.
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"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiatic about." Charles Kingsley