Whenever my friends and I are out in a public setting where it's just us, I'm very social and extroverted – I crack jokes, make sure to ask people questions to continue conversations, etc.
However as soon as a group of strangers walks in the same bar or restaurant and sits close enough to overhear our conversation I become hyper aware of everything I'm saying and start to close off because I'm very afraid of those people laughing at the shit I'm saying or just judging me.
I guess it stems from one time when I was a kid and was talking to my friends at a fast food restaurant and heard some adults at the table next to us laughing at what we were discussing and repeating stuff we were saying in mocking tones. It doesn't help that my friends also eavesdrop on strangers' conversations and silently make faces to get a laugh out of them. So it definitely is something that happens often.
Hell, even when I'm not saying anything I feel like all strangers are staring at me all the time and judging whatever I'm doing. For example at the gym even after months of going I still feel like people are always looking at me.
Anyone else had this and managed to get over it?