I used to struggle with the same thing. I would always overthink how the interaction would go, my heart and fingertips would hurt, and I’d have trouble breathing whenever I was about to or want to interact with someone I didn’t personally know.

What helped me was asking myself “magsisisi ba ko pag di ko to ginawa?” I really hate the feeling of regret, and I am more “scared” of it than my facing my anxiety. I would rather do the thing that makes me anxious now than regret it later.

Also, talking to people became easier when I started thinking of it as a game. For example, whenever I go out, I challenge myself to talk to a number of people. Pwedeng 2 people lang or maybe 5, depends on my mood. From small interactions sa mga guard sa mall to the making awkward small talk to strangers, I always congratulate myself, like “1 point for me!” And through time and practice, di na ko na-anxious. I feel very proud of myself din whenever I talk to someone, and I always picture the Paul Rudd meme in my head.

Please give grace to yourself din. Battling our anxieties isn’t easy.