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Can being introverted cause anxiety?
Both introverts and extroverts can be socially anxious It may sound counterintuitive, but it is true! Introverted and extraverted individuals may both experience social anxiety. While extroverts may enjoy socializing with others and enjoy social interaction, they may still feel anxious around others at times. While research suggests social anxiety may be somewhat more common in introverted people, there’s still a lot of variability in individual personality traits. If you’re more conscientious, you might feel anxious about missing important details or giving an impression of unreliability. There’s a common misconception that introverts aren’t social. In fact, introverts can be just as social as extroverts. The difference between the two is that introverts lose energy when they’re around people and recharge by spending time alone, while extroverts gain energy by spending time with other people. Introversion is a personality trait, not a mental health condition. Introverts get their energy from within, meaning they need a lot of alone time to recharge. This means that introverts may process more information per second than extroverts, which helps explain why introverts are prone to overthinking. Big Crowds Introverts gather their energy from being alone, but that doesn’t mean the “all alone in a crowd of people” thing always works. Big crowds may isolate introverts in a way they don’t enjoy or gain energy from. We feel most included in small groups of people we’re close to and comfortable with.
Are introverts more prone to anxiety?
While there are always exceptions to the rule, research consistently demonstrates that Introverts are, in general, more anxious than Extraverts. It appears that Introverts’ nervous systems are in many respects tuned differently. The extreme introvert is typically thought to be very shy, to prefer solitude, and to feel uncomfortable and self-conscious in social situations. Extreme extraverts, on the other hand, are known for their sociability, enthusiasm, and confidence in the social arena. People who are natural introverts often feel pressure to change. They worry that they are not outgoing enough, and so sometimes they push themselves to socialize in ways that cause them more stress than enjoyment. Introversion isn’t totally genetic. It gets influenced by your environment at a young age, and our genes allow a certain amount of flexibility in response. This happens through “set points,” which are the upper and lower limits of how much extroversion your brain can handle. When they feel really overextended, some introverts complain of feeling like they are disconnected from themselves and their surroundings, as if things are happening in a blur. Their mind processes things in slow motion, and they feel like they are “zoning out”.
Are introverts just anxious?
A person can be both an introvert and socially anxious. Both introverts and extroverts can experience social anxiety. But being an introvert does not mean you are socially anxious. Research has shown that there is a high correlation between being intelligent and socially anxious. The higher your IQ, the higher the chance your social apprehension is higher than usual. Of course, that doesn’t mean that your social anxiety should be classified as a disorder. The brain of an introvert can be a complicated web of ideas and thoughts. There is a lot of thinking activity going on in there most of the time! Being an introvert can be quite exhausting. Introverts are easily distracted by external stimuli and while they might be too nice to say anything, get very frustrated with constant interruptions when they are trying to concentrate. Psychologist Laurie Helgoe says introverts hate small talk because it creates a barrier between people. Superficial, polite discussion prevents openness, so people don’t learn about each other. Deeper meaning: Helgoe again, “Introverts are energized and excited by ideas.
Do introverts have panic attacks?
Still, for many introverts, anxiety is a regular part of their lives. And indeed, anxiety is more common among introverts than extroverts, according to Laurie Helgoe. Sometimes anxiety is obvious (think: panic attacks and sweaty palms), but that’s not always the case. Someone with social anxiety may feel extremely nervous in social situations, but present as extroverted and confident. Other people might not even be able to detect their anxiety. Shyness tends to be more apparent, although it often presents as situational. In other words, shyness tends to flare at certain times. Being asked to speak during a meeting, a surprise party or trip, or unexpectedly running into an acquaintance at the store can feel overwhelming to an introvert. Introverts may also experience more stress when they don’t have time to decompress or recharge themselves with some alone time. Yes, it’s true: New research says that introverts could have a higher IQ. Think you’re a genius? Take this Mensa quiz to find out. Generally speaking, the more often people socialize with friends, the happier they feel. This means introverts may process more information than extroverts per second, which helps explain why introverts may be prone to overthinking. They open up to you. Levels of comfort with sharing personal thoughts and feelings vary from introvert to introvert, but any introvert opening up to you is still a big deal. There’s a level of trust that must be there, a feeling of comfort in speaking with you and allowing you into their world.
What are the traits of the anxious introvert?
They spend a lot of time in their thoughts and tend to have creative imaginations. Anxious introverts. They seek out alone time not just because they like it, but also because they often feel awkward or shy around people. If you’re an introvert, you likely possess emotional intelligence skills that your more gregarious counterparts secretly admire, and rightly so. Introverts are often misread as people who wish they could change. But that’s not so! Studies have found that introverts get more easily distracted than their extroverted counterparts. Because of this, they might be annoyed when someone steps into their office for a quick chat. They also get annoyed by interruptions when they speak. Introverts enjoy activities they can do alone or with just a few others. So, it’s not surprising that so many introverted, gifted children love to read. They also tend to prefer activities that allow for creative expression, like creative writing, music, and art. In fact, more than 75 percent of people with an IQ above 160 are introverted. Not only is Einstein one of the most famous scientists in history, but he was also a known introvert. Leaning into his introverted nature, Einstein believed that his creativity and success came from keeping to himself. He said, “The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.”