I've found that most people vastly underestimate the helpfulness of a good therapist. Your fear of making a fool of yourself smacks of an irrational level of i

I've found that most people vastly underestimate the helpfulness of a good therapist. Your fear of making a fool of yourself smacks of an irrational level of insecurity that may stem from dysfunction that you may not be aware of. A good therapist can help you get to the root of that dysfunction and teach you exercises and attitudes that could make you feel immensely more confident and happy. If all else fails, a therapist will recognize if you might need pharmaceutical help. I've seen therapy work for multiple people in my life - but addressing dysfunction isn't something that you can deal with on HN. You have to seek out a professional and commit yourself to working hard on getting better.