It’s hard to breathe for me when I talk to people I’m not comfortable. How can I get myself to relax more?

Socialising is taxing. As much as we need it, there are many things we look out for while socialising so as to not make a mistake or draw unwanted attention to ourselves. That kind of pressure can make it hard to breathe and can tense you up while you're interacting with others. When you are already aware of your own breathing and you notice that you're pressurising yourself, take a moment to pause and let them speak. Or you could slow the conversation down a little. This would give the other person time to talk while giving you time to consciously take a breath and slow things down. Remember that you don't always have to be on par with them while talking. Being conscious of that and taking action takes a bit more effort, but eventually when you come to understand that slowing down during a conversation is important and you build on that habit, you will relax more during your interactions. It's all about being in the moment and well aware of how you're feeling as you interact.

Think of a list of five questions that you can ask any person? A couple of examples are: "What are you passionate about in life?" "Why did you choose your profession?" "If you could fix one thing in the world right now, what would it be?" "What is your favorite tradition?" Memorize the questions so that you will be prepared at any time. I always try to picture myself as the other person. What would I like for someone to say to me, what would I want them to ask me about? While the other person is answering you can concentrate on taking deep breaths, practicing mindfulness and relaxing.