The first step is talking to people you’re expected to talk to. Asking the cashier how her day is going, saying good afternoon to the mailman, waving to a neighbor and saying hello. It’s nerve wracking at first, absolutely. You’re stepping out of your comfort zone, but it doesn’t have to be much at first. Just a couple sentences and words. If there are words you’re more comfortable using, stick to those words. The nice part about this kind of interaction is that it’s so socially routine, that you can pretty much control the conversation, and if you need to, you can bail out. After you feel a bit more comfortable doing that, expand. Have a drink by yourself and make small talk with the bartender. Ask someone where they got their jacket because you like it. If you’re ordering in line at a coffee shop (and there’s no one waiting), have a conversation with the barista about the different types of drinks because you want to try something new. These are less scripted and a longer interaction than the first paragraph, but they’re more akin to public speaking because you’re talking with someone, but now other people will be listening to your conversation. Those are the first steps to just get comfortable talking to people in public. Once you’re more comfortable with that, it will feel more natural to move to crowds. Edit: as always, I’m always here to encourage you, point you in the right direction if need be, or just be a sounding board if you need to complain about how frustrating it is to have a buffering connection between your brain and your mouth