Hey, welcome to the forum. You're not alone
Lots of people here (including me) have been in the same position!
What are you afraid of? Judgement from the dentist? You can search for dentists with good reviews and try to find ones who specialise in treating phobic patients. Honestly, a good dentist won't shame you. And your teeth won't be the worst they've ever seen - probably not the worst they've seen that very day! You can tell the dentist before the examination that you know things are bad but you're incredibly nervous, and you would appreciate it if they were very gentle with you and went slowly. It's totally okay to ask for things like that - the dentist is there to give you treatment, not make judgements about you or your life, and as a patient you have the right to compassionate healthcare.
If you're scared of the procedures, look into sedation methods like nitrous, IV-sedation, and even general anesthesia is sometimes an option. The first appointment won't involve any treatment anyway, just an exam, and some x-rays. You might find more teeth can be saved than you expected. And if not, then dentures, whether partials or full dentures, are not so bad. I have full dentures, and once I got used to them life went back to normal - except I had a much better smile, so that's always a good thing.
You've already taken the first step by reaching out here. The next step is to maybe research and contact some dentists. It's a terrifying thought, but living in misery with broken teeth isn't much fun either. It seems like an impossible mountain to climb but (sorry for the lame metaphor) once you're actually climbing, you can see the end in the sight and it's not so bad.
Hang in there
