I've always suffered from social anxiety. Loathed giving speeches in high school. Didn't continue on with college classes because I didn't want to take a public speaking class.

Anyway, years ago I joined our local volunteer fire department, and I also work as a meat cutter at a grocery store. I thought all that social interaction would help with my social anxiety, but I think it's had the exact opposite effect. After 14 years I resigned from the department because my anxiety got so bad I couldn't even attend meetings. Most days I'm nervous about going to work because of the possibility of having to take an order from a customer or explain something to them.

I'm trying really hard to change this but so far it hasn't been going well.