Crippling shyness in social situations is ruining my life

My problem is that I'm a very shy man when I'm out with other people in social situations and I feel it's ruining everything for me. Life feels like a battle a lot of the time and I overthink every scenario.

- Dear Coleen

The other thing is, I blush a lot, which I find very stressful, as it's obvious to everyone I'm with how I'm feeling inside. Things that other people take for granted feel like an ordeal for me. For example, if I go out for dinner with a group of people, I'm only able to eat a small amount, as the shyness and the blushing take over and put me off my food. All I can think about is how I'm coming across to the other people.

I live in Ireland, but in two weeks' time I have to travel to England to visit my brother and his wife and family, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it and worrying about how I'll cope.