I(24 f) get really anxious when I have to speakup or have a conversation with someone. Especially when someone is not my friend, but also happens when I am among group of friends. 

My friends always say I am very quite and don't talk much, but I used to brush off these comments thinking I didn't have anything to share. Also, when I was in college I didn't used to speak up during lectures to ask any doubts or give any answers when the questions were directed to whole class, even if I knew the answer. I did answer when I was particularly asked, I kept it short so the whole class attention can go back on teacher. I remember once I knew an answer to a question asked and no one else on the class did. I told my friend next to me the answer and he told me to say it out loud so the whole class could here. I didn't, I just told him to say it out loud. I didn't think this was an issue back then, as I just thought that how I was. 

Now that I have entered corporate world, I realised a lot of scenario when I shoud have spoken my mind and maybe my life would have been a bit easier/different. Once I realised this I started to speak when I thought I should, but I got really scared of speaking, fumbled on my words and lost the order in which I am supposed to present my opnion and all I could say was sentences that didn't get my idea across. And then I completely forgot what was the thing I was trying to say. This does not happen when I am communicating with a close friend or family member. Just with the people I am not close to. So, I know I can communicate properly, but I loose my composure when it comes to talking to strangers. 

Recently, I have started attending online classes, and when the instructor asked the class a question that I knew the answer to, I waited for someone to speak up and when no one did I decided I have to. And thats when I realised I was anxious to speak up, even in online class. I did say the answer out loud eventually, but even the instructor noticed fear in my voice and enquired who it was. I had already muted myself and was not gonna say anything for a while. I was calming myself down and being glad to have been able to speak up. This is when I realised I am anxious to speak up. I knew I had anxiety when I am in social situations, but this was different. It was online lecture and I was suppose to just speak 2 words. Then when I recalled all those times my friends said I was very quite person, I remembered having something significant to contribute to the conversation and I just didn't. I was just avoiding being in an uncomfortable situation where everyone's attention was on me and fear of them judging me or criticizing me.

Thats when I thought I need to overcome this. I can't keep on living like this. If you have any tips or suggestions to overcome this please share with me. 

Sorry for the long post.