Here's my advice, but I'll warn you right now that you're not going to like it. (:
Make a fool of yourself.
Next time you're out with a bunch of people, pick a random person, go up to them, and make a total ass of yourself. Introduce yourself, then talk about something annoying, like politics, or what you had for breakfast, or what your favorite breed of cat is.
Most likely, they will awkwardly end the conversation as soon as possible and avoid you afterwards.
That's usually as bad as it gets. It's really not dreadful. It doesn't have to be panic-inducing. It usually doesn't get much worse than a little awkward and uncomfortable.
Practice making a fool of yourself on purpose, and I bet you'll find your confidence level rising each time. You'll know how it feels, so you won't be so afraid of doing it by accident. (;
Best of luck to you! Being social is really fun and awesome once you get the hang of it! I know you can do it! (:
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