Is it normal to have social phobia but still desperately crave it?

I sometimes have social anxiety too. I avoid some social situations because of nerves which is a bad habit; once you start walking that path, it's that much more difficult to go back. You lose connections with old friends and making new friends becomes more difficult.

It is something you can overcome though; confidence and experience, as well as being able to keep things in perspective are all tools to help you and me get passed these kind of fears. Realise how little most of it matters and that if you make mistakes you can start again and you're on the right track.

Optimism, confidence, rational thinking and self-love. The more often you take that leap of faith in yourself and say 'yes' to situations you want to run and hide from, the more often you realise how easy it is, and that fear fades away. Say yes!

(I sound like a self-help book)