I’m genuinely unsure whether my lack of social skills is because of social anxiety making me too nervous to think or if I just don’t have the skills. Basically, I’m at university and haven’t been able to make any authentic friends. I haven’t been myself due to fear of rejection and I put up a very bad front trying to not show anxiety (and failing, naturally). I can’t speak to people in lectures or maintain conversations, I usually just nod along and listen to others and try and ask questions along the way. But as a result I can’t connect to them or have any banter. Whenever I’m with a group of people I’m mute.
I’m very desperate to get out of this,not sure how I can let loose and have banter and have a good time without overthinking whilst this anxiety is here. Any advice would be much appreciated.