I think a central part of the socially anxious student's trouble is a need for clarity and certainty, and in some social situations uncertainty is the entire po

I think a central part of the socially anxious student's trouble is a need for clarity and certainty, and in some social situations uncertainty is the entire point, and an enjoyable part of it. With time and experience you can get comfortable not knowing exactly where people stand, or what they think about you. As a person who once could have been that anxious student, I think the secret is that trying to ask someone for a date while in that state would be a bad idea. Other stuff needs to get resolved first.