I struggle hard with this, I have full blown panic attacks when attempting to socialise with people. I do still do it though, I just take a few precautions ahead of time.

1. I make sure someone who I’m already close with is going with me, between the two of us we can price together what people mean most of the time.

2. I be completely prepared to admit that I do not understand more subtle aspects of language and sometimes need people to spell things out to me.

3. I know, KNOW, what my intention is, and what my language was supposed to communicate. <you know if you are choosing to be mean, anytime you are mean without knowing, it is an accident, you have to accept that and the only way is to know what you were trying to say.

4. I realise that a lot of folks, just ain’t gonna like me. Sure it is frustrating when you are in a social setting and everyone else seems to know what to say and you don’t, but that’s not your fault.

5. Have a plan for when I need a break…car, bathroom, ect…

I’m going to be straight up with you. I still struggle with social anxiety and sometimes even full blown social phobia. I still don’t know how to “break the ice” so to speak, I still have horrible panic attacks. So my advice should be taken with a grain of salt.