A little background information. Typical geek girl, ostracised often, kept inside forcibly a lot due to overprotective parents. I pretty much have five or six friends.

Now. A while ago, I noticed that when I was in groups of people, I would just freak out, get scared. I would want to leave immediately, would be afraid of staying any longer, would become afraid of my friends speaking to me. In groups of one or two, not often. Much more, and it would just be too much. Even with really close friends, it would happen.

Now, it's carrying over into school. I avoid people, I'm afraid of people joining in in conversations with me. I speak, then immediately regret it because I know any social situation I could get into would turn out horrible for me.

I go to my room immediately after school, because the people at school, the social situations... I need to be alone.

My friends don't really notice. I made sure to try to hide it... I think it might be a fear of them treating me negatively in a group, but I'm not sure.

Recently, I thought of what might happen if I was invited to go with a bunch of friends somehwere, at all. I was so upset by the thought I cried.

I just need an opinion on all this. I really don't know what to do anymore. I'm confused and need help with this.

In the mean time, I've found that it's best to discuss this with your friends and others you spend time with. If they know what's going on they're likely to be understanding if you need to leave the conversation for a minute or don't want to go to a party. If they know how you feel they can be supportive.

Not aggravating the situation seems to help too. Instead of eating in the crowded lodge at work I either take my meals into our office or out on the usually empty deck. Little things like that make it easier to deal with the things you can't avoid.