beat social anxiety

Elem school triggers countless memories of painful and uncomfortable social situations that i wished i’d have performed better in. I suppose this awkwardness and anxiety stayed with me throughout high school up till now. Always sort of been fidgety, self-conscious around large groups of people, and any input usually seems to stop people from talking altogether. One on one i feel okay, and i sense that people think it’s odd how i can be so withdrawn around groups maybe larger than three. Everytime i approach a group i try to distinguish whether it’s about if i didn’t measure up to this group, or how i just acted around the group that makes them sort of shy away from me. I admit there is a need for acceptance, but i can’t seem to get it until i build my confidence, learn to let go of my past, and practice again and again.