I am in my 40’s and have been a regular social drinker since my teens. I realized very early on that drinking in social situations gave me the courage I needed to deal with my shyness. Over the past 12 months, I’ve dramatically decreased how much alcohol I consume, and I love all the life changes that come with it. However, I am struggling with my thoughts on my social skills when out at a party or with a group and I am not drinking. Being my authentic self feels challenging and maybe sometimes I don’t even know who that is. Some conversations with friends or new acquaintances will flow continuously, while at others I really struggle and get very uncomfortable. I struggle with talking about myself, finding the words to be eloquent.
I realize these are all thoughts, not circumstances. But I am not sure where to go from here, how to work through this. Thanks!