I'm desperate for validation. Anything I can do to stop it?

I work and do all the typical stuff however I avoid any unofficial contacts with people as much as I can. It is VERY important to me (not rationally but I feel that way) what I think other person thinks about me. I get high if I think they think good about me (or at least not bad) or feel like nothing otherwise. I'm automatically thinking what I should say or write that will cause positive emotions in a person. That is all my mind focused on by default.

This bring me tons of suffering every day. I'm afraid of talking to people, being around them, walking in the street because the mere thought of possible negative perception hurts me greatly. I'm not talking about experiencing life in a normal way or enjoying it. I'm afraid to express myself or to share information with other people about myself (like hobbies, music tastes etc).

I think the probable solution is self-love, right now I'm working out what that exactly means and what I have to do. I didn't really get any love at home. I don't remember seeing my mother and father kiss or hug or saying I love you. In my family noone talked about their feelings. Only my fathers emotions mattered and I was emotionally destroyed by him for every little thing I did 'wrong'. My mother has low self-esteem and always taught me (and showed by her behavior) that I must act in a way so that others will be pleased with me, that my feelings don't matter and I must care what others will think. So here I am. Any thoughts how to stop thinking that way?