My cats do the same thing!

I'm not so much afraid as uncomfortable. I don't like public speaking either, but I had to do it in my business life. Put me at a conference table with CEO's and I'm in charge because I'm delivering a prepared presentation on a topic I know inside and out. There's no social risk with that sort of thing. It's just business. (Although I will admit that standing at a lectern makes my brain freeze up and my vocabulary evaporate, especially during the Q&A.)

They do say that many famous people in the spotlight are introverts, especially comedians.... and I read that Barbra Streisand has "agonizing stage fright" before every performance.

@TheoryNumber3 I think that speaking for work, be it entertainment or business, puts the speaking in a different category since it is not about you, the individual. It is about something else. For over a decade I did volunteer work giving tours at a sanctuary. I enjoyed it for the most part, even though they were often quite interactive. After the tour though, sometimes people wanted to make small talk and I really didn't have much to say then.