I strived and wished for decades that I could be at ease in social settings. All I wanted was to be NOT anxious and to feel calm.
I tried every thing to deny and fight and resist and cure those feelings. Until 2 years when >> I just surrendered to it.
I have fucking anxiety. I will probably always have it to some degree no matter what. I accept this about myself, i am still okay, and I'm sick to death of hiding and resisting this. It's not what I would choose, but it just is. And amazingly after giving up my resistance to feeling anxious...I feel it less. My energy is now directed towards other things in life besides this old fight, and I'm happier and less anxious as a result! So it's like giving in made part of it lighten up...a partial cure.