Hi. I too totally detest sitting in waiting rooms with other people as I feel they are looking at me and I have great problems relaxing and making eye contact. I often see 'red' if somebody I don't know stares at me, as I think "what the hell are you looking at"??!!
People in the UK can be particularly bad for staring at you for no apparent reason - they obviously have not heard of the phrase "It's rude to stare". Sometimes, I feel like asking the person who's staring if they want a photo or something!! The other day I felt particuarly bad with nerves depression and anxiety, and I was driving home out of the work car park, and noticed somebody staring at me. When I turned back to check if they were still staring they were and I reacted badly by flicking my fingers up at them! I feel bad for doing this, but it is understandable as I feel threatened by this sort of behaviour and see no need for it at all. I feel that people I know are always judging me badly as they won't speak to me much and don't ask how I am.
I have struggled with this for years and don't really have an answer, other than try and focus on the person you are with, and try not to worry about what other people think of you so much as you are fine just as you are. I am thinking about buying some confidence books by Paul McKenna and would like to suggest you think about purchasing these too.
Regards, Richard