Social phobia., How do you get over it? Options

[georgeWIRELESS]

( Excuse me, I'm not sure if this belongs here, so if it needs moved, I'm sorry O.< )

I've been shy, all my life. I've never had more than a few friends, I've never been able to speak up to anyone, I've never been able to ask for help because I was afraid.

I failed a grade once because I was afraid to go to school. I don't know why I was afraid.

I don't have much time left before I'm going to have to start making it on my own, only a couple years, which isn't that much.

How can I prepare for the real world when I'm afraid of it?

If I've been this way all my life, will the future be any different?

My parental units say homeschooling is a bad idea, but I don't think it's any worse than public school. I'd get about as much social interaction in homeschooling, with none of the anxiety. >_____>

The more I'm forced to socialize, the more fearful and withdrawn I become.

Everyone thinks pushing me into social situations is the answer, but it's only made it worse.

Have you ever had social phobia? Do you still? If you don't, what changed?

[lovescream]

I don't know.. It's like I used to have so many friends, but now I'm afraid to talk to people too. The best advice I can give you is to.. I don't know. Just.. slowly make progress.
I mean, before I became, as you would say "social phobic," I kind of wouldn't care what people think of me. I'd say whatever I want out loud, and not give a crap. But now, I really do care what people think about me. So it's like, I don't have friends because I'm quiet and want to make a good impression, not a loud mouth one. :x So, I guess, another thing to tell you is to not care about what people think? I mean, maybe you're too worried about what people think, that you don't realize that. O.O

LONG POST, excuse me.