How can I not fear getting nervous?

I think you have to build your comfort level up. Trying to force yourself into social situations with very limited practice is, I'd imagine, like stepping behind the wheel of a car without any driving lessons. It's going to be nerve-inducing simply because of how unfamiliar you are with expressing yourself around strangers.

The good news is that comfort is relatively easy to work on because it's mostly a matter of experience. Finding ways to give yourself experience socializing with new people will give you a lot more courage to eventually hang out or go on dates. You have to start off small and climb your way up, getting there with practice and preparation.

You might look at a comedy special and think these comedians are gifted geniuses at their craft, but what we don't see is the countless times those jokes have been tested out at open mikes or smaller venues and endlessly rewritten and tinkered with before you got to see the finished product. It's gotta be the same with leaving good impressions on people. You have to work on your material before presenting it.

Luckily for you there are lots of people here with nothing better to do with their time, so if you want to practice socializing with others, you've got a range of options here. Maybe you'll have to start off with messages or text before you move on to spoken words, but it's completely possible to get to where you want to go.

Its alot like what @TinyViolins says.
But you can experience socializing with many people but when it's a date, it's not as simple as that.

I think its gotta be baby steps to work into a comfort zone with the one you're gonna date.

A date would usually extend through about 3 hours,(depending on what is planned).

So before an actual date, getting into that comfort zone little by little,just go for a walk n talk.

Like a 15min time hanging out?
Next time maybe go to the park for about1/2 hour.

You know build it up where you would feel comfortable in longer periods of time. Because face it, knowing you're gonna be together on a 3 hour date gives you alot of time to feel nervous and breaking away is not an option.

So hang out and progress that comfort zone enough where your comfortable and before you know it you could be hanging out, but it will be a date..

I'm jus say'n

Are you going through therapy??? I'm sure you said you were...

I'd tell the therapist that you have an issue with this and you aren't sure how to limit it's effects on you. S/he may be able to develop a strategy that you can use to help yourself in addition to your coping mechanisms for panic attacks.

There's also the option to have a chaperone with you, too. They don't have to sit at the same table as you and your date - but it might help to have someone you know and trust in the establishment with you.

This is serious. It can ruin your life. You meet a nice guy and then you start panicking in front of him... 😐
You might consider seeking professional help. You're certainly not the only one with that problem. Hey – good luck to you Coral! 🌷

Try meeting people you feel comfortable with first.

Practice breathing exercises

Be yourself

Have you always been this way?

Drink

Anticipatory anxiety can be a challenge. You have to believe that we're all equal and the other person might be nervous too!

It's an exposure thing. Like dealing with anything that makes us uncomfortavle the only real solution is to keep doing it and be uncomfortable. Evebtually it starts to numb.