Social anxiety is a very high level of shyness. Everyone feels shy in particular situations, but it's a bit extreme for those with social anxiety. They get anxious when speaking in public, eating in public, talking to other people and even using public restrooms. In order to overcome your social anxiety, the first thing you have to do is, you have to deal with your negative thoughts and the beliefs you hold about your abilities in social situations. People with social anxiety believe they're weird or unlikable and that they don't know what to do in social situations and that they can't handle them. Don't believe that when you don't even let yourself try and test your social skills. You just predict that you're going to make a fool out of yourself but you never even try. Stop avoiding social gatherings and judging yourself without even giving yourself any chance of exercising your skills and getting better.