I definitely relate! I was always I guess "shy" without a lot of friends, but people I would talk to would say I was alright once people got to know me. Alcohol gave me confidence and false pride to where I would start talking to people more even if my pre-conceived notion was that I was not going to like them. Which isn't all bad I guess. In sobriety I have been able to hang onto that somewhat in that I'm not necessarily "the quiet one" all the time anymore, but I'm also not associating with folks I normally would not because I am inebriated. I used to tell myself I could not face people or situations without a drink. Now I either face them and do what I must ( example would be a phone call to an ex) or if I feel like it's something I can't handle right now (a New Years party with drugs and booze) I simply don't do it.