If its REAL, diagnosed anxiety(lets be for real, we're starting the throw "mental health" around pretty liberally recently), then say THAT. Don't try to make it about the act. Instead of saying "I hate small talk", "small talk sucks" or "I don't want to talk to people" say, "I struggle with small talk." If it just regular ol insecurities, you're supposed to trying to overcome them. Wake up and try to be a better person than you were yesterday.
Eh, maybe so, but I'm noticing younger people are saying this even in the south. I know most of us was kind of social awkward when they're coming into adulthood, but its just a phase and the only person that is going to get you out of that phase is you.