It isn't something I consciously think about when I'm doing it, honestly. I'm not immediately thinking about how I'm perceived by the other person when I shut my eyes and look away (mostly towards the ground). For me, it's not an embarrassment thing...In all honesty, it helps me get the word out, so it has become a habit, because it works for me. For example, I tend to shut my eyes and look down when trying to get a difficult word out, whether I'm in the presence of someone, or if I'm practicing a the same word at home by myself. I know this isn't a practical solution to getting past a block, but for me, honestly, this is the simplest explanation why I end up dropping eye contact; because it has helped in the past.