Is shyness a illness?

Should or is shyness a Illness?? Most of us to some point have had moments of a complete and utter social 'shutdown'. Which isnt bad, were all human, but what if this happens every single day of your life? what if it stops you making certain choices and talking to certain people, surly this could be counted as a illness of some sort? and what could the cure be?
Ive had teachers, fellow pupils, friends and even family tell me to cheer up, and asking if anythings wrong. Purly cos im sitting just not saying anything, the fact that somone has just drawn attension to me is mortifying enough, i can feel the flush of my cheeks and people looking, then i instantly start thinking they know im emmbarased and i can feel myself getting really anxious and, even a little bit scared. What do people think of me now? Shyness has just been me since i can remember, since i cant even remember. Ive been told storys of being put to nursary and my mum being called to come get me beacause i have just sat crying not wanting to play with anyone. Can you imagine from such a young age being thought of as 'weird' This is not the way i ever want to be, im a social person deep down, but letting that person get out is another matter. Some people can be envious of someones nice shoes, or there hair or there friends but i just wish i could be a person who could ask somone something and not feel the urge to run and go somewhere and litteraly hide. I constantly feel pulls in my personality, i want to meet new people and go out and be that somone who people actully want to be around. Then the other part of me, it seems the stronger part, keeps me in, turning down invitations, keeping myself to myself. I know this has affected how i interact with people aswell, i always feel i cant keep a conversation going, that in time i will bore somone into just forgetting about me. Its a scary thought, if im in a room with people i feel like the less liked out them all. It hurts knowing i could do so much better. I dropped out of school beacause my guidence asked me to, and that was beacuse we both knew that i wouldnt cope with 5th and 6th year. I knew it but it felt weird somone else knowing it to. When i was in primary school i just drew more attension to myself cos i refused to eat my lunch infront of people. I cant really describe it, everything i do is torure, i cant even talk to my family they feel just as much strangers to me as any oll person down the road. Is this normal? and now companys battle over what shyness is and could there be a drug to cure it? Shyness has the possiblity to destroy my life. I cant stand meeting new people and walking into a room full of people causes me to almost have a breakdown. I have NEVER, EVER felt comfortable in any group and never feel like I fit in anywhere. It causes you to hate yourself. Your mind becomes blank and you panic if someone asks you a question. I dont know if its a illness i dont know what it is, if its a faulty gene like cancer but if anything came out that claims to help me with this ide take it. If not then drink and ,dare i say drugs will have to be my only aid. Im not stupid enough to go into work or college with anything other than a sober mind and body, but sometimes i wonder how far i would go to feel normal and actully have that confidence to shout for somone acorss a room. Right now ide rather go without than ask somone for anything. I try to hide it as much as i can but some people must honestly think i dont like them or think im better than them because im not talking to them. In reality i feel that everyone has something to offer and there just better than me. Its not a state of being 'emo' as some people might think, its the fact ive been quiet all my life, ide like to know what it feels like to not have boundries, to say what i feel and do what i want to do. I cant though and i know if i dont do somthing or find something to tackle this i would become depressed by my own made icsolation. My furture scares me, i want to be a journalist but can i?