Hello Marblesy: I noticed this is your first post here on PC. So welcome to PsychCentral! I hope you find PC to be of benefit.

I'm not sure what to tell you about your situation. I think it's probably one of those things where you just have to try it & see how it goes. I did something similar to this many years ago. And, in my case, I don't know as it made things worse, but didn't make them any better either. Since, once you're in a converation you don't really have a problem talking or being friendly, I'd think perhaps that is a good sign!

Here are links to some articles, from PsychCentral's archives, that offer suggestions for how to manage social anxiety in particular as well as anxiety in general. Perhaps some of the ideas in these articles can be of some help:

https://psychcentral.com/lib/6-ways-...ocial-anxiety/

https://blogs.psychcentral.com/being...ocial-anxiety/

https://psychcentral.com/blog/treati...ness-training/

https://psychcentral.com/lib/social-...-in-your-mind/

https://psychcentral.com/lib/9-ways-...ere-right-now/

https://psychcentral.com/blog/11-tip...anage-anxiety/

https://psychcentral.com/lib/15-smal...iety-symptoms/

https://psychcentral.com/lib/top-10-...s-for-anxiety/