Introverted vs. Social Anxiety

[bertine]

A few questions:

Are you an introvert?

Do you have social anxiety?

Do you think one means the other?

Bonus Question: Am I an introvert?

Comments

[sacramentalist.livejournal.com]

Yes. No. No. Bonus = yes.

An introvert is just someone who needs to recharge away from people. one can have social anxiety or be gregarious but just need to be away for a while.

[jonthedull.livejournal.com]

Hmm I wish I read your reply before I made my own. I can deal with social situations, even in what I consider safe places, but I will eventually need time alone or with limited interaction.

[sacramentalist.livejournal.com]

It's not a bad thing, bub. It's just a different way of being around people. And I'm not saying it in an inclusive "we're all Special" way. Some people need to be around other people. Being alone is kryptonite. I'm just the opposite way. Neither is better.

Actually, the whole personality types idea isn't a great model. I'm also a Capricorn.

[dreamwell-ali.livejournal.com]

Yes. exactly this.

I have mild social anxiety within the last few years, but I have always been an introvert. One has nothing to do with the other for me.

[bertine.livejournal.com]

That is how I define introversion. I can be social, I am not that shy (anymore) but after I do social things I have much less energy than when I started.

[sacramentalist.livejournal.com]

Well, you know me. I flew to another city to meet people I barely know. I may be socially awkward, but not really shy. But being up takes some effort. Everyone just leave me alone for a while.

Most people I associate with are like that. But I lived with someone who was an extrovert (step daughter). It's a totally different dynamic. I don't know how people can be comfortable being in constant contact with others and being alone is tough.

Again, neither is good or bad. It's just different. It's probably best to accept who we are. But pushing the comfort zone is good. Otherwise, I'd just be a shut-in.

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

Hmmm.

Yes.
Yes. (Sometimes, not always.)
Not necessarily, but the correlation is probably there to some degree.
Hmm...you don't come off as introverted, but introverts don't really appear to be introverts around people all the time. I think it's one of those you-are-if-you-think-you-are things.

[bertine.livejournal.com]

I define myself as an introvert. I am just not shy at all. People don't scare me, I just get drained from hanging out with people.

[jonthedull.livejournal.com]

1) I used to think so and I think I may be or may have been. Ive gotten in to the habit of talking or making jokes to try to fit in or cover it up. It's gotten to the point where I think I have introvert nature, but if I feel safe, I can drift into extrovert (though I may be an annoying one)

2) Yes. But again a lot of it is situational. I can deal with a bunch in my home or condo or at work. I've worked at my job I think half my life and I feel like it's "my library" so some awkward situations I can deal with because I feel I'm in a position of power. Regarding the condo I feel safe because own my unit and I am for the time being on the board of directors, so again I have a feeling of power. Any situation with lots of strangers or somewhere new that I've never been before are enough to set me off.

3) Hmmm... I think the two often go hand in hand but I think introvert is the way someone is but social anxiety is more of disability or illness.

bonus question: I don't think so. Perhaps a bit. I've never met you so it's hard to tell. I mean you take part in a "snack food glory hole" and are rightfully proud of your computer skills those don't seem introvert, but you don't seem to be an attention whore, so that sort of counters that. Like I said, I've never met you, so my opinion is worth little.

[scorpi084.livejournal.com]

Yes.
I don't think so.
Not necessarily. I don't get anxious about being with people (unless I'm on overload), I'd just rather spend my time other ways.
You seem pretty social to me, but how much of that is you going against your basic "type" and how much is that being your "type" is hard for me to guess at.

[bertine.livejournal.com]

I identify as an introvert. I like people but I have to plan down time between outings. When I go out and do stuff I feel like I am "on", and that take energy. When I do a conference to a convention I try to plan a day afterwards where I don't have to be around people at all because I don't have the energy to do much more.

[melissa-maples.livejournal.com]

Yes.
Sometimes (though less as I get older).
Not necessarily.
Yes.

[eyelid.livejournal.com]

Are you an introvert?

no.

Do you have social anxiety?

lol, no.

Do you think one means the other?

No. My understanding is that being an introvert means that people drain your energy, while being an extrovert means that being around people makes you energized. of course it's rarely just one or the other - everyone gets tired after awhile - but it's a rule of thumb.

Patrick is an introvert, I think, but he doesn't have social anxiety.

Bonus Question: Am I an introvert?

I doubt it.

[bertine.livejournal.com]

Patrick reminds me a lot of Zach in that way. They both aren't shy but need a lot of time being quiet.

I am introverted but I like people. CVG requires me to take Monday off because I will have no energy left. However, I love every moment of it.

I think I come off as less of an introvert because my job doesn't really require me to interact with people so I can use that energy at other times. When I was a cashier I would be so worn out from that interaction.

[annablume.livejournal.com]

Yes. No. No. I don't know.

I'm hugely introverted and it's completely different than social anxiety for me. I can pretty much talk to anyone, seek out conversation with strangers, love to throw parties and can engage a roomful of people for hours in a professional setting.  But it exhausts me. And I require a tremendous amount of recovery time. 

Extrovert recharge through social interaction. This baffles me, as do their schedules.

[bertine.livejournal.com]

I seem to be a lot like you in this way. I like people, I like hosting parties and standing in front a crowd talking doesn't bug me too much (I get a little nervous but it usually is more about content worries than people not liking me). However, I need equal amount of time in recharge.

I am amazed that you can be in front of a class everyday. I don't think I could do that.

[avecvu.livejournal.com]

Are you an introvert? Yes.

Do you have social anxiety? Sometimes.

Do you think one means the other? No, although one can certainly influence the other.

Bonus Question: Am I an introvert? I think so, but you also make an effort to not let it hold you back, which is awesome and also more than I can say for myself.

[grenacia.livejournal.com]

Yes to both - I am an introvert and I have social anxiety (I have developed pretty good coping mechanisms for the social anxiety, to make it something that's usually not very noticeable at large social gatherings). Despite both those being true, a lot of the stuff in that introvert meme does not apply to me. There is a LOT of variety in introverts, and in social anxiety, which manifests in different ways in different people.

If I had to guess if you were an introvert, I'd probably have said yes, but it would be a tough guess. There are complicating factors, like, did you need time alone because of introversion or because of migraines? You seem very social-but-reserved.

[damncutekitty.livejournal.com]

I consider myself an extrovert, but I sometimes have social anxiety.