Yep, the 'sound' of silence makes me anxious - especially in social situations. It's at those times between topics when conversation dies and a silence fills the vacuum that I am terribly ill at ease. I feel the urge to jump in and say something, to start a new line of discussion. Yet, at the same time I worry that I will make a fool of myself. The silence is agonizing and I can't bear it. If it lasts more than a moment or two I begin to panic. I actually walk into social situations with a mental list of things to talk about in case I am forced to start up the conversation. 'Winging it' is impossible.

[leejosepho]

You and I are quite alike there, and I have never found any best way to deal with that in every situation other than to sometimes try to anticipate the next period of silence while also trying to think of things that might help get the conversation going again.