A quick follow-up to my post from 5 December regarding HV's Sour Pez. While I was initially disappointed by the strain, I've no found a perfect use for it.
I was invited to a birthday party this past Saturday that involved a whole lot of people I didn't know - these scenarios always trigger some mild social anxiety in me. I usually end up in a quiet corner, speaking to only one or two people I know and keep to myself otherwise before dreaming up an excuse to leave early.
On a whim, I decided to take 2 drags of the Sour Pez before the party and wow, that made a world of difference to the whole experience. It relaxed me just enough to take the edge off while still giving me enough mental clarity to be able to engage in meaningful conversations. By the end of the evening, I was actually enjoying myself which was a very pleasant surprise. It gave me a really welcome confidence boost. I now view this as a useful tool to help 'normalise' these types of situations in my mind - hopefully to the point where I'm eventually comfortable enough to no longer even need it.