When I'm try too hard to manage my impression, I kinda cave in. It happens during interviews and on dates, and with old friends who I try too desperately to connect with. My mind goes nuts trying to solve/analyze/escape the self-consciousness and I have no more time to be myself freely.
I guess I become self-conscious only when folks start pointing out things, repeatedly. Then I think about what they said, does it make sense. Drop my feelings about it and see how I look if I were staring at a stranger with my face and name. Distancing helps.
If the critique makes sense, I take the feedback. If it does not fit into my life, I don't, afterall, they cannot live for me. But I remember what set of behaviour they like to see, and if I have to work with them next time, I behave accordingly. But I'm wary of overly critical people - sometimes they are brutally honest because they enjoy the brutality vs the honesty.
Edit: Sub yea, I don't like tight spaces too. In aircrafts I always try get the aisle seat by leaning over and whispering conspiratorially to the counter staff that "I have bladder incontinence, I have to go every half hour, and I really don't want to disturb other passengers" *lol*. It works most times.
Question, if you could trade your fear for another, which would that be, and why.