These are parties or send offs and the like where the crowd is very friendly and chummy and noisy with lots of laughter, joking and hugs!
I try to overcome the dread of being judged negatively and the faulty belief that I have to be a sparkling presence, by talking to my self and telling myself such things as:
"I am in charge of this situation and I will look after you. I promise that I will not desert you and I will be there for you so there is no need to panic. We can do this so lets give it a go"
By this method I can usually pull it off and settle down in the throng knowing that it will not be forever and soon "we" can leave and go home to peace
