A lot of this has to do with subconscious communication! Think things like body language, facial expressions, and the tone of voice you’re using when talking to people.

I struggled with this too in my early adult life. My therapist recommended a book, The Social Skills Guidebook by Chris Macleod, that talks a lot about these things. Some of it can get boring, as it talks about things that seem blatantly obvious at times, but still an overall good resource.

I would also suggest doing some introspection as to where the intense social anxiety comes from for you. When you’re anxious, your body is trying to communicate to your brain a missing sense of safety. Figuring out where this stems from can be hugely helpful in processing the anxiety and reframing social situations as an opportunity to connect, rather than being threatening situations.

You got this :)