At the risk of making this sound like some awful teenage YahooAnswers question, I thought I'd see if anyone on Hubski had experienced anything remotely similar.
I realise that although I generally don't have a problem meeting new people and apparently seem at ease in new social situations, I find it quite taxing and it often makes me physically/emotionally tired. If an initial meet with a new person lasts too long I feel as if I 'zone out' and start appearing quite distant, this is usually accompanied by a kind of hyper awareness of how the new people are seeing me. I get very embarrassed easily and feel vulnerable even when I shouldn't need to.
Also, even though I like my friends and have a 'normal' number of them, I really don't get the urge to meet them. There are people that I hope I will remain friends with for decades, yet I haven't seen those people for years and have actively avoided meeting with them on several occasions. Usually when I finally meet people it is pleasant enough, but I never relish going out and get into quite a state if I know I have to go to a party or gathering of people I don't know. I usually end up drinking too much to make up for the nervousness, which is a stupid idea.
I much prefer to remain at home with my partner or with family and never self-initiate social things that will require me to leave that comfort.
Is this 'a thing'? Does anyone recognise this in themselves? I ask because I realised that my partner is what I would consider to be somewhat 'shyer' than I consider myself, yet is always meeting friends and putting herself in new social situations/branching out to other people.
Re Zoning out - specifically -- protect yourself. In a new situation with new people, give it all your attention for 10 or 15 minutes or whatever and then say you have to leave and hope that you can meet again soon. Gradually you'll stretch it out as you feel comfortable. It's pretty easy to zone out if you are bored. It does sound like you might be a teenager. At the risk of making this sound like some awful teenage YahooAnswers answer
It might be interesting to ask yourself this: What do I want to be like? What kind of person do I want to be? Do I need to be more social for my career? How can I make an impact? How can I bring more goodness to the world? What makes my life meaningful? How can I be a good partner, family member, citizen? Then continue to move in that direction.