I Struggle with Larger Social Gatherings and Get extremely Socially Awkward

Even though I spend most of my spare time alone, I enjoy spending time with small groups (brunch, dinner, etc.) or one-on-one with people. I’ve been told that I’m a good listener, ask insightful questions, and come across as confident.

However, when it comes to large gatherings, I feel very anxious and struggle to connect with others—whether I know them or not. The whole experience is just overwhelming for me. Even though my hearing is fine, I can’t process conversations properly in these situations. All the background noise blends together, making it impossible for me to focus or follow the context of a discussion. It stresses me out so much that I sometimes escape to the bathroom or step outside just to get some space.

This really bothers me because people who don’t know me might perceive me as socially awkward, even though I feel comfortable in smaller settings. I suspect this could be an ADHD-related issue. My ADHD isn’t very severe, so I only take medication (Medikinet Adult) when I really need to focus. I’ve wondered if taking it in these situations would help, but I’m unsure about the mix of alcohol and Medikinet.

Does anyone else experience the same thing? Do you have any tips?