I started following the approach anxiety program on Good Looking Loser. I've got to say that this program is absolutely solid. Right now I'm on day 8 of the program. On day one I was absolutely terrified of asking someone for the time, but now asking something that felt a lot more awkward originally (directions to a place, and if they've been there) comes pretty easily.

The program seems to work by having large, incremental amounts of involvement in approaching situations. I'm doing nofap alongside approaching, and it definitely feels like not fapping makes you get in there. On day 8, I felt a lot more hesitant going up to people (nofap relapse was the day before) and the interactions felt a lot more awkward.

Although I'm supposed to just do the drills and leave, some people seem a lot more receptive and open to having a conversation. I'm not sure if I should try to get a number during those encounters. That would go against the program, but I imagine having number closes to go along with this would work well. I'm not sure whether I should try to do separate encounters where I escalate or just follow this program for now.

On a side note, even though I've followed the program for a short time it's been in different cities and environments. People on streets seem to be much friendlier than people in malls (but the data so far is pretty limited).