I'm becoming more and more introverted and I don't like it
I don't know where this change originated from, but throughout the past few years (currently a college undergrad) I feel like I lost so much of my social skills. I can communicate just fine with my close friend group, but put me with anyone else and I become dry and stiff as a rock (more specifically, I'm fine talking to strangers my age, but talking to people that I know but am not close with is a different story). Unless the person I'm talking to has a very welcoming and nonjudgemental aura and/or initiates most of the conversation, my mind just becomes a blank slate aside from shallow NPC convo topics. (all of this only applies to one on one conversations; any group with >2 people, I become myself again). Also, I have this weird thing I've developed where if I've talked to someone before but it's been a while, the next time I'm in a room with them or see them, I'll instinctively avoid eye contact/talking, which probably makes me seem very distant. These days I get pretty anxious about one on one hangouts/convos (even a 10 minute walk to class) because I hate feeling like a bore to others and hate awkward silences. Don't even get me started on approaching people that I like(d); non-existent. I really look up to people who exude a bubbly personality and seem carefree when talking.
[fluff: I think this post also originated because I was noticing how the sorority members at my college have such vibrant social circles and manners of speaking. Someone I like is in a frat and has sorority friends, and I'm just thinking, why would he ever like me over a flirty, social sorority-type girl.]
Anyone relate and/or have any tips on becoming better at socializing? Also to clarify, I'm far from being a loner or anything like that, I just feel like I can't make and maintain meaningful connections as well as before, and am lowkey becoming nervous about talking to people