Wow… thank you for this. This captures my feeling exactly and this is what I and many others miss from life.

I feel you and I experienced the same. I was quite social back in my college days too, even though I was still an introvert. I used to strike up conversation and small talk with people. However, now, just the thought of making eye contact with a stranger is enough for me to avoid going outside or skipping the thing/event altogether.

I mean, I can still do the small talk, but it comes with immense effort, and a bit of awkwardness. Internally I just want to run away and hide in a corner. Never used to happen before.