Anyone else really have to focus and put a massive amount of mental preparation into holding a conversation? Especially if you have to break the ice.
I think because you put so much effort into it that when it invariably falls into awkward silence you feel extra crushed.
make sure you can contact someone later through their phone or computer, or know where to "accidentally" bump into them
if things start to slow down and get to that awkward silence just say you have to be somewhere and go