A really good way I’ve heard it put is that introverts expend emotional energy on social interaction, and recharge it through isolation. Extroverts are the exact opposite. So if you imagine being forced to interact with other people non-stop for seven days, with no chance to have any alone time, and that’s what this person was putting themselves through.
This metaphor also handily explains the difference between “introvert” and “antisocial.” I love being around my friends, in the same way that some people love swimming. But just like swimming it’s very tiring. Even Olympic swimmers can’t swim all the time. So it’s not that I don’t like you, it’s just that I’m exhausted and if I keep going I’ll drown.
Bruh I’m an extreme Extrovert. I always want to be around people and be engaged in society. Literally all the time.
The pandemic was the first time I understood how my introverted friends feel when I pressure them to hang out. I used to be notorious for just constantly hammering them to do stuff with me if I knew they were home and had no plans.
When we locked down, I literally felt like I was mentally cracking. I could not deal with it at all. Massive depression and heavy alcohol usage. Heavy anxiety and a lot of self hatred just constantly reliving every shitty thing I’ve ever said. I was exhausted and just wanted to sleep despite doing nothing all day. It was rough.
That being said, it definitely put the whole introversion thing into perspective for me. It made me able to relate where before I couldn’t. I could not wrap my head around how some people just wanted to spend life at home when there’s so much world to explore! People to meet and things to do! So overall, it did make me a better person/ friend.
I still hope to never fucking lock down ever again though.
Is that really hard for an extrovert to be 7 days alone?
A really good way I’ve heard it put is that introverts expend emotional energy on social interaction, and recharge it through isolation. Extroverts are the exact opposite. So if you imagine being forced to interact with other people non-stop for seven days, with no chance to have any alone time, and that’s what this person was putting themselves through.
This metaphor also handily explains the difference between “introvert” and “antisocial.” I love being around my friends, in the same way that some people love swimming. But just like swimming it’s very tiring. Even Olympic swimmers can’t swim all the time. So it’s not that I don’t like you, it’s just that I’m exhausted and if I keep going I’ll drown.
(Asocial not Antisocial - Anti-social is purposeful action of hostility towards people. Asocial is the purposeful avoidance of social interactions.)
Removed by mod
Bruh I’m an extreme Extrovert. I always want to be around people and be engaged in society. Literally all the time.
The pandemic was the first time I understood how my introverted friends feel when I pressure them to hang out. I used to be notorious for just constantly hammering them to do stuff with me if I knew they were home and had no plans.
When we locked down, I literally felt like I was mentally cracking. I could not deal with it at all. Massive depression and heavy alcohol usage. Heavy anxiety and a lot of self hatred just constantly reliving every shitty thing I’ve ever said. I was exhausted and just wanted to sleep despite doing nothing all day. It was rough.
That being said, it definitely put the whole introversion thing into perspective for me. It made me able to relate where before I couldn’t. I could not wrap my head around how some people just wanted to spend life at home when there’s so much world to explore! People to meet and things to do! So overall, it did make me a better person/ friend.
I still hope to never fucking lock down ever again though.
Is it really that hard for an introvert to interact with someone constantly for 7 days straight?
Well I’m not an extrovert and I have no idea if it’s really the same for them to be alone as constantly interacting with people is for introverts.
Fuck I don’t even want to interact with someone constantly for 7 hours straight.
Does staring off into space while someone talks at me count as “interaction”?
Yes. People are exhausting – particularly extroverts, who often won’t let us do introvert things to recharge.
My dad freaks out after about an hour if he doesn’t have someone around or on the phone. So… yes!
Extrovert here!
Yes.