Social anxiety is very real. The problem is the distorted reality the guy who suffers from it deals with. I agree - people have better things to do than pay attention to a stranger - yet when I had low self-esteem/social anxiety I thought everyone was looking at me and judging me. If I had a pimple I thought everyone was staring at it, disgusted. Hell, not even a pimple - a blemish from a pimple that was there last week.
It's similar to the skinny anorexic woman who thinks she's disgusting and overweight. It's ALL ABOUT PERCEPTION.
As I gained confidence I realized I was the problem - the liar to myself. And it's funny - I just responded to an e-mail from a guy who wanted to know how important looks are when it comes to getting women. And I told him about how much I used to hate the way my nose looked and now I love and appreciate my nose. Not only does it help me breathe fresh air
but it's unique.
I look back at the things that bothered - no - socially impeded me - and I feel like I'm feeling those feelings from a different person. I know why I felt those feelings and it amazes me I believed such lies about myself. The struggle is real and I want any guy who suffers from it to know you can conquer immense social anxiety.