Oh man, I really enjoyed reading this because I've felt the exact same way most of my life (as a matter of fact, I still do feel this way quite often).<p>Dealing with people is incredibly hard because everyone has biases, experiences, and lives of their own -- and regardless of how much you try to put yourself into someone else's shoes -- to understand why this person is the way they are -- there is simply no way to ever truly understand how someone feels and acts.<p>People can be hateful, ignorant, and mean to one another -- but at the same time, people can also be kinda, loving, and compassionate.<p>I've found that the best way to get around the constant anxiety that goes along with wanting to help and <i>fix</i> everyone I come across is to try my best to be accepting of people the way they are.<p>Nowadays when I meet new people, I try to have no expectations: instead of building up a mental image of this person in my head, and assigning them an identity (this person is nice, or this person is smart, or whatever) -- I instead try to be fully <i>present</i> in the moment and let things happen as they will.<p>Not only does this help me deal with social anxiety a lot, but also helps me relax and feel more comfortable about myself, knowing that I'm constantly trying to live in the moment, accept reality (and people) as they are, and live my life the way I choose regardless of outside influences.<p>It's incredibly hard to do this, but all the effort pays off (at least it does for me).<p>Thank you for sharing your story.