I suffer from social anxiety. This is a chronic mental health condition in which social interactions cause irrational anxiety. For people like me with social anxiety disorder, everyday social interactions cause irrational anxiety, fear, self-consciousness and embarrassment.

And the word “suffer” isn’t exaggerated. I seriously can’t remember a time in my life when a “crowd” of five or more people didn’t quickly have me looking for the nearest available exit. And if I’m invited to a gathering, or worse yet, a party—well, my response 99% of the time is, “no, thank you.” …

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