To begin this blog, it's important to understand that introversion and extroversion exist on a complex personality spectrum, however for now we're going to be focusing specifically on the classic perception of an introvert and how people can acknowledge their needs and for that let’s starts by dispelling some common myths about all introverts (I am an introvert myself so I have the perks of writing this lol).
Myth 1: “All introverts are shy” this is false being, an introvert doesn't mean someone is shy, it just means they gain energy being alone and they take energy to interact with crowd of people they don't know, which could mean they're less incline to small talks and that people have to work a little bit harder to engage them in a conversation and once that is understood, it can make communicating with introverts easy and streamlined. (Like seriously stop stereotyping things! I have heard people say that “She dances in front of all the people, how can she be an introvert when she is not shy” …. I am not shy while performing because that’s something I love and doesn’t involve talking so shhh…let me be and I have talent so I’m showing it. So, for people who think it's ok to talk about people like that, you have a problem please go to a doctor.)
Myth 2: “Introverts can't be leaders” to dispel this one look across the spectrum of tech companies and you'll see this is obviously untrue. Holding introverts back from leadership positions is counterproductive, it just has to be understood that introverts’ leadership style would be slightly different then that extroverts for instance more focused on deeper one-to-one communications and possibly less team events.
Myth 3: “Introverts don't like to talk” many introverts love to talk. They just may want more focus on the conversation because trying to converse about nothing can feel draining or overwhelming and having a more casual conversation with an introvert can require trust and openness. This is common.
Myth 4: “An introvert is more likely to deal with mental illness” Just because someone does well in big groups and is talkative doesn’t mean that they are less likely to deal with a mental illness. It’s damaging to convey that there may be a connection. When looking at what increases one’s risk of mental illness, we need to look at many factors: biology, childhood trauma, family history and overall temperament. Honestly, a lot of the time that I’m outgoing and talking a lot, it’s when my anxiety is flaring more than normal. By surrounding myself with good people and chatting about unrelated things, it helps me tune out the anxiety or diminish it altogether.
Myth 5: “Introverts are quiet” Again, introverts are not necessarily shy or timid. If you only see an introvert in large group settings, this may be the impression you perceive, but that’s only because it’s not the environment in which they thrive. It’s like when someone says, “They’re quiet until you get to know them.” Take your time with introverts and hang out with them in a smaller setting. You may be surprised at how hard i is to get them to stop talking.
Myth 6: “Introverts have more negative personalities” Because they actually like being alone, introverts are sometimes stereotyped as having more depressive or negative-slanting personalities. This misconception likely stems from the fact that extroverts -- who gain their energy from social interaction -- might feel sad when they don't spend enough time with people.
When extroverts are in an introverted place for too long, spending time alone or being quiet, they can report feeling sad and depressed, because they feel sad when they’re alone, maybe they therefore think we feel sad when we’ve been alone. That misconception is coming from a genuine concern, but it’s more putting their feelings on us. Most introverts don't connect solitude with loneliness, unless it becomes excessive (Since we are always by ourselves, we are used to it and we like it). That being said, although introverts do not innately have more depressive personalities, they do tend to spend more time thinking and analysing -- and if this turns to ruminating, it could potentially lead to depression (this I can’t disagree on cause I tend to get depressive too).
Myth 7: “It's easy to tell whether someone is introverted or extroverted.”
Many introverts could easily go out to a party and talk up everyone in the room -- and they may enjoy themselves doing it. But at the end of the day, they'll look forward to restoring their energy by coming home and reading in bed with a cup of coffee. Given our culture's bias towards extroverted personality traits, many introverts have become accustomed to being the wolf in sheep's clothing -- behaving like an extrovert in social situations, and perhaps acting more outspoken and gregarious than they feel on the inside. Or they may enjoy the social interaction and attention, but later crave time alone to recover.
Most introverts are very good at behaving like extroverts (Cause that’s me sometimes, I do like interacting with new people but it drains me a lot). A lot of us are out there behaving as extroverts ... but then we have to shut it down. Then we have to be quiet and regain our energy for the next time. The longer I’m out there putting on the show, the longer I need to recuperate.
Introverts really do like people and we like socializing but we just like it in different ways than extroverts. So next time don’t say we have a problem and try to ‘fix us’ cause we really don’t and try to give us time. ( We ain’t sick bruh but if you think so then you are the one who is sick, again go check a doctor.)
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