As-salamu alaykum - Why I Feel Mentally ‘Broken’ in Public Until I Warm Up Socially

As-salamu alaykum, I wanted to ask my fellow Muslims about this - maybe you’ll have more helpful ideas. Please be patient and kind; talking about this feels awkward for me. I used AI just to tidy up the wording so it’s readable, but these are my own thoughts. Sometimes I feel like there’s a “normal” version of me. In that state I can chat naturally, joke, stand up for myself, smile when it fits, and feel okay with my body and voice. It all feels automatic. But that doesn’t last. At other times I switch into something else that’s hard to explain. The best way I can describe it is I feel like I’m acting like someone who’s off-balance - but I haven’t done anything to cause it. When this happens my body goes into high alert for no clear reason. I feel scared and tense even though I know I’m safe. It’s worse when I’m walking outside or just standing in public. I don’t panic outwardly, but inside I feel awful. I keep moving because I don’t see another option. My body feels disconnected and stiff, like my nervous system thinks I’m in danger and I can’t talk it down. The surroundings stop feeling normal and I’m pretty sure I must look odd or unsteady to others. This really affects daily life. Going out becomes stressful. I try not to cancel things because I know hiding from it just makes it worse later, and even when I don’t have plans I force myself outside sometimes. I’m getting tired from pushing myself so much. What makes it worse is if one outing goes badly, the next time feels even harder, so it becomes a cycle. The strange thing is that after I spend some time around people, I usually get better. If I go to class and talk with friends for an hour, I suddenly feel relaxed and grounded. The same happens after intense exercise or sports that get me moving. It’s like my body needs a social or physical “warm-up.” I don’t remember when it started and I don’t really know what it is. I’ve thought about anxiety, not having enough social practice when I was younger, being introverted, or something about how my nervous system works. Any advice from brothers and sisters who’ve experienced something similar, or suggestions that fit with our way of life, would mean a lot. Jazakallahu khair.