I don’t have this exact same kind of anxiety as you, but I often feel strong social anxiety while outside. This happens in spaces where I cannot blend in easily and where I am kind of forced to come into contact with strangers, e. g. when there is just me and another person on a road at night walking towards each other, and on the other hand also in spaces that are so crowded that you cannot avoid each other, e. g. on the subway or in a supermarket after work.

What helps me is a growing acceptance of the fact that I will be afraid, that feelings of embarrassment and being out-of-place will come or that I might even intimidate others because I’m kind of big and can sometimes make a grim looking impression.

The other helpful behavior, also related to the above, is that I’ve grown more comfortable with being a little more passive in such situations. Instead of pressuring myself to face those fears and conquer them by doing something extraverted in such a situation, I feel comfortable just keep to myself and calmly swipe on my phone on the subway, or walk by the other person staring straight ahead on the street at night. Previously I was afraid others would see right through my ruse I did that and would notice I’m clearly afraid, but I care less now.

Also I try to focus on the successes, however small. When I made it through a situation without any of my fears being realized I shortly take mental note of that, and sometimes reflect on it at the end of the day.

There are more and more days without anxiety, so I’m pretty confident it will become a minor problem with time and I can move my focus onto other aspects of life.