[Andrew Michaels]

Actually...that sounds about right.

It's never been that I'm shy, at least not for many years anyway, but I've always preferred to be alone.

I'm a great speaker, I aced my public speaking classes in college. People laugh at my jokes. I can usually come up with something to say in conversation, but the strain always bothers me. There's a mental anchor that I've always felt burdened by whenever I'm out amongst others, and I don't know quite what it is.

I've never liked banter, or talking for the sake of talking. Why must there always be conversation?

I think you may be onto something with your theory. Could you expand a bit on how you change your mindset?