So to start off I guess I’ll say I used to be a social butterfly, with no anxiety or social issues whatsoever…
But then I discovered drugs and went through a long term addiction, which I’ve recovered from for about 5 years now. But the meat of what I’m getting to is in all those years of sobriety I’ve never fully grasped the ability to communicate properly.. I can be among other people and in public no problem but when it comes to socializing all I can get to is a basic yes or no reply when the conversation comes to me…it’s like my brain is either too slow for conversation or I get overwhelmed by direct conversation and can’t respond. 
Alcohol is the one thing I’ve been able to find which sort of helps this social issue I’m having but it’s not something I want as a viable treatment. 
So what should I do now to learn how to more or less socialize with people face-to-face ?