Socialanxiety

I tend to be quiet around new people but then I feel like I've already "branded" myself as the quiet one and when I get comfortable enough to have a conversation, i might still not talk because now it feels like too big of a jump from not talking to talking a lot.

Usually with alcohol I can skip the analyzing step but then there might be a point when I get overwhelmed and I'll just zone out, as if I'm just observing the conversation like a ghost or a fly in the wall.

I can relate to the sweating part. In the past, I sometimes used overnight prescription-strength deodorant before events where I knew I'd start sweating. It was very effective, but I know some of the ingredients can be problematic.

Out of the ones you listed, not asking questions is probably the one most likely to keep you away from making connections with others. As we all know, people love to talk about themselves. I find it helpful to have a few questions in my "mental bank" before interacting with new people just so I don't have to think on the spot.

I was practicing small talk with my husband one day, and I asked him if he likes his job. He was like, "Ickplant, very few people actually like their job. You're either asking them to lie or putting them in an awkward position of bitching about their job to a stranger. It's better to ask what their favorite part is about their job or something similar." That's what inspired me to be more intentional about what I ask.

Safety behaviors are a big thing in social anxiety. Nothing is wrong with being quiet per se. We are talking about staying quieter than you normally would because of social anxiety. So, burying your true personality traits - aka masking - with safety behaviors.