workinonit, Please work on NOT apologizing so much. That is not good for your self-confidence and self-esteem. There is no reason for it. So that is one thing you can work on.
Second, rejection hurts and it is a bit humiliating but it is not life threatening so we just have to get used to it breathe through it and move on. It certainly is NOT comfortable but it happens to all of us. We all have to learn to deal with it some time in our life. So add a few friends of friends to your circle and try. Keep adding to your circle and keep participating it will become easier and easier as you practice. Life can’t be safe all the time. But you have to keep working on it and trying. After an experience good or bad stand in front of your mirror and tell yourself “that went well” or “That didn’t go so well, but here I am still in one piece, I will have to try again.” How does that sound, do you think you can try it?