[dukeofharen]

I also suffered from a bad case of social anxiety. It probably does not work for everyone, but what really helped me was just going away for 4 weeks. I just returned from my holiday and forced myself to stay in hostels. I was terrified before (having to socialize with unknown people, blegh), but it has been amazing and am really looking forward to doing something like this again.

Again, I know it does not work for everyone, but sometimes throwing yourself in the deep, away from your own comfortable home situation, works wonders.

[nicbou]

I see this advice a lot, and it's probably good advice, but my experience differs.

When I travel solo, I become much more introverted. I think that being in your own head has a stickiness to it, so if you're in it for a while, it's hard to snap out of it. You can also be quite weary after a day on the road.

You might also find solo travel difficult when you're around other people. I love solo travel when I'm in nature, but Friday nights in cities can be dreadful.

Still, you will meet people. You don't have to be extroverted, just open to talk. If you're not curious, other people will be. They'll throw you the ball. You just have to throw it back. Bless these people.

[brewdad]

Maybe look at the culture of the people where you are traveling to if looking to break out of a shell of your own creation. Sitting at a bar in Ireland good. Sitting at the same bar in Sweden or Seattle bad.

[whstl]

I have a story related to this. It wasn't a bar, I was in Germany traveling without set destination by train (thanks, 9 euro ticket).

However, the stereotypically cold Germans were actually highly receptive of a random stranger talking with them. I was invited to changed destinations a few times to hang out in random cities, and started a couple friendships.

Of course those were also people taking advantage of the 9 euro ticket, so there's a lot of selection bias here. :)

[RamblingCTO]

I read that exposure therapy is one of the most solid tools in psychotherapy. So what you're doing is is exactly that! Travel helped me as well, coincidentally. Going alone on a train tip to the arctic circle for example. Staying in hostels. I met so many new people, that was really awesome. I'm glad to hear your doing better!

I also think that if you're avoidance strategy is withdrawing from social life, changing your location and not staying in all day is the key ingredient. You can't get your needs met at home.

[bearmode]

I think the most important thing is just putting yourself in those uncomfortable situations. Even if it's awkward, even if you feel embarrassed for whatever reason, you'll have learned a bit more about how to interact with people. So next time will be less awkward. Then the time after that, less still.

This is what helped me, when I was in that position.

[dorkwood]

I did this when I was younger. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you have a specific plan on how you’re going to challenge your fears each day. I stayed in hostels for four weeks and only really managed to talk to a couple of people. The rest of the time I was by myself.