What you describe sounds familiar to me. I often find it a strain to make conversation when in social situations. It's easier for me to be alone with ( or without ) my thoughts than to force talk with another.
The pressure of feeling that you must talk, in order to be liked, or to avoid the appearance of awkwardness, definitely doesn't help.
I'll offer two pieces of advice that you may already know.
1) Accept the situation you find yourself in. If that situation means silence, then so be it. It takes 2 to tango. If conversation is not flowing, it means nothing. Just accept it. the moment you do accept it, converation will probably come, or some other thing will take your awareness off of your discomfort.
2) Be interested in the other person. Very often when I feel like you describe, ( awkward or a need to make conversation ), and the talk doesn't flow easily with another, I just force myself to ask questions, and create an interest in the other. People love to talk about themselves. You can keep a conversation going forever if you are interested in learning about the other person.
ps.
1/2 of any conversation is listening. A good quote about listening that I love, is:
Genuine listening means suspending memory, desire, and judgment - and, for a moment at least, existing for the other person. -- Michael P. Nichols
Thanks for listening. :-))
Floyd
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