How introvert are you? Do you wish you were not an introvert or are you ok with it?

Question

What do you think are the survival techniques for introverts in the extrovert world?

Answer 1

I'm very introverted, and I guess I'm okay with it, although I wish I had better communication skills. The only way to survive is to be brave, and don't let others' judgments get to you.

Answer 2

Being introverted isn't a curse. It's just when people are shy, when they're socially phobic, that it gets to be a problem.

Being introverted just means you're more observant, more of a loner. It's not that social situations scare you, you're just a little more reserved, more quiet, and not as reliant on other people to make you feel involved and appreciated.

If you're uncomfortable, that's not introversion. For example, I'm an extroverted person, but I have a lot of issues with agoraphobia and social phobia. If I feel relaxed and calm (like, if I'm around people I know and feel comfortable with), I don't mind being in public.

But if I feel tense or upset, or if I don't feel like I have a reasonable amount of control over a situation, I freak out and I just want to go home and be alone.

I did a lot of "exposure therapy", which is a cognitive-behavioral therapy technique to reduce anxiety in social situations. Basically, you do something that makes you a little nervous, like making eye contact with strangers.

You get used to that and you try something harder, and so on, until you get to the point that you really don't feel too nervous in public. Now I can speak in groups, do public speaking, give presentations...all kinds of things. Try the book Dying of Embarrassment for exposure therapy info.

But introvert/extrovert--neither is a problem. It's what you do with your nature that determines whether you have a problem.

Answer 3

Everyone should be OK with the way they were born, with the genes they chose from Mom and Dad. If someone makes an introverted person feel bad about who she is, she should stay away from that person, plain and simple. It's no different than telling someone they should change the color of their eyes or skin.

I don't think I have any survival 'techniques'.

Answer 4

Whoaa freaky, I had already written this question and was about to post it untill yours came up under the "similar questions". I'm an introvert, but I pretend to be an extrovert, it's the only way to survive.

Answer 5

you have to show more of your extroverted side. I'm an introvert, don't
feel bad ok! There is absolutely nothing wrong with you it's just we prefer to be alone, we don't like a lot of external stimulation, we don't need it, now that isn't to say that we are antisocial it's just we get our energy from within whereas if we get too much external energy we feel drained. for instance every time I'm at a party after a couple hours I need to "recharge" so to speak, I need time to myself. It's the way we are wired biologically. read up on it ok!

Answer 6

I scored 100% introverted (INTJ) on Meyers Briggs.

I am just fine with myself as I am. I am sad for people who can't understand me (it's not that hard) and are not comfortable with me. I refuse to change to conform to some arbitrary standard.