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If you had to put people into groups based on the ways they fuel their energy, you could distinguish two broad categories of extroverted and introverted people. Extroverted people feel best and most energized when they are interacting with others, while introverts recharge by being on their own and social interactions drain them to exhaustion.
Introversion is a personality trait and not a mental health condition, but it is often confused with social anxiety disorder. Introverts aren’t necessarily anxious in a busy social environment, but it just takes a lot of energy to be engaged, while for people suffering from social anxiety, such an environment causes nervousness and fear, although some research suggests that introverts are more likely to feel social anxiety compared to extraverts.
It seems that this could be the case as evident from a thread started by Reddit user Sarayka81 who asked, “What situation is an introvert's nightmare?” Many people noticed that redditors started listing situations that are more dreadful for people with social anxiety instead of introvertedness and concluded that they might not be able to make a distinction between them if they have both, although a big chunk of them related to the scenarios mentioned.
More info: Reddit
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#1
Phone calls. Receiving and twice as bad having to make one.
TheAquarius1978 2 years ago
I don't know why but i Also hate having to make them, mostly to strange people, which is wierd because Im not introverted, i can be and i am shy, but if anything Im an extroverted person.
It seems that the definitions of introversion and social anxiety are different, but as many people in the thread pointed out, the terms get mixed up and socially anxious people might think that their fears are just part of being an introvert.
Bored Panda reached out to Distinguished Professor at University of California Riverside Sonja Lyubomirsky, who teaches at the Department of Psychology, to find out what causes the misconception.
She explained to us, “My guess is that it’s because socially anxious people often say little in social interactions and appear uncomfortable (like they prefer to be alone). Introverts actually DO enjoy alone time, but not because they are afraid of social interactions. Just a lot of socializing exhausts them.”
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#4
Your social butterfly friend begs you to go to a party with him. You go there and he wanders off to talk to literally everyone there while you follow him like a puppy.
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago
If the party is at someone’s house, find out if they have a dog or cat, and spend your time with them instead of draining your social battery on a bunch of people who are probably already, or are well on the way to being, sloppy drunk, and highly gross and annoying, anyway.
Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert depends both on your genetics and your effort. Sonja Lyubomirsky has read studies that said “that the heritability of this trait is 40 to 50%. However, just like with anything that’s heritable (most human traits), this doesn’t mean that we can’t change it with deliberate effort.”
The professor gave herself as an example: “I myself was 'born' an incredibly shy person (a trait related to introversion) but with a great deal of effort and willpower, I have transformed myself into a huge extrovert. But it takes work.”
#7
Being picked out of the crowd at an assembly, concert, magic show etc.
You may think that trying to analyze your personality traits is useless, but you may benefit from knowing whether you're an introvert or extrovert. Sonja Lyubomirsky believes in what Francis Bacon once said, which is “knowledge is power,” because “It helps you understand that your reactions (e.g., need to rest after a party or take breaks) are normal and healthy.”
It is important to know because her observation is that “In the U.S., extroversion is relatively highly valued (e.g., in leaders, in job interviews, in speaking up in teams, on dates).” So she thinks that it is easier for extroverts to live in the current society in the US, but introverts shouldn’t think that something is wrong with them and their reactions, rather that it’s just how their brain and body works.
#8
"Wanna hang out this Saturday?"
"Sure!"
*Saturday arrives, 10 minutes before hangout time*
"Oh also I invited my friend you have never met before to join us"
"..."
#9
As a child my worst nightmare was when my parents got visitors and I'm stuck upstairs hungry and thirsty because I can't access the kitchen.
Duesvolent90 2 years ago
Yes, you finally try to ninja your way to the fridge and one of them see you and alert the rest like a chimpanzee
#10
“That’s not loud enough, I said ‘GOOD MORNING TEAM!’”
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago (edited)
No. I was never interested in being a cheerleader for my school, and still not interested in becoming one for the company. So f**k no. Besides, it’s all fake b******t anyway, like Potemkin Villages (just look it up) for corporate. F**k them.
Do you feel that any of these situations are unbearable to you? Do you think you are actually introverted or have you been confusing it with social anxiety? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and if there are any “nightmares” that weren’t mentioned in the list, tell us about them as well!
#11
When the person you've been forced into meaningless small-talk with just straight-up does not read your subtle cues that you prefer to be left the f**k alone.
LittlePiggie 2 years ago
Especially when you have earbuds/headphones in/on or are actively reading a book.
#12
Comments like "Look who finally came out of their room" or "Oh wow you can talk!" When I finally step a bit out of my comfort zone.
#13
People barging into my personal space uninvited
Krystol Grayson 2 years ago
We rent the basement from my in-laws and every Summer they invite the whole huge family. Guess who has to give up all of her space without any complaints if I don't want to lose the only affordable housing in my small expensive town?
#15
Crowds
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago (edited)
Some people get off on being a part of a big and boisterous crowd. I just get claustrophobic and want to get the f**k out of there. Especially if people have been drinking. Cannot stand sloppy drunks individually, totally despise them collectively as a crowd.
#17
Waiter/waitress bringing cake and singing happy birthday in front of the whole restaurant
Duesvolent90 2 years ago
Yeah, I have that to look forward to tonight. When you ask them in the most serious tone you can muster not to have them sing for you, they will ALWAYS SNEAK OFF TO THE "BATHROOM" TO ASK THEM TO SING..I SAID NO FOR GODSAKE THAT MEANS NO!
#18
A party where all people do is stand around and talk. For hours. I just want to be in bed with a book thanks
#19
My college has put me in a shared room with a stranger who doesn't speak English. There is no where for me to go and re-charge my social battery. I am losing my mind- don't get me wrong, I like my roommate. She seems real sweet but by god I need a minute to myself.
#20
Here's mine: meeting a coworker that you don't know very well on the train, locking eyes and having to engage in conversation for the next 30-40 minutes.
All you want to do is read your book, but there's no way out and you decide to put up a brave front.
They're not thrilled to see you because you already have a reputation for being kind of weird. The more you talk the weirder they think you are. You can see it in their eyes. Already you can hear the office gossip in your head: "Oh my God, guess who I was stuck on the train with..."
Nightmare fuel. Work from home was a blessing in this regard.
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago
I have a problem associating names with faces, unless I spend a lot of time with people—-and even then, if I haven’t seen them in years, chances are good I don’t remember their names, or don’t want to anyway, if they were assholes to me. So situations like this are extremely awkward for me, and I usually try not to let them see me.
#22
Small talk. If I'm gonna give you my attention and take myself out of my inner world you'd better have something stimulating to talk about.
Tabitha Frost 2 years ago
Is this man squatting and drinking milk out of a bag with a straw???
#23
Networking events
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago (edited)
You mean talking a lot of b******t and acting like you like people you actually can’t stand, just to get ahead.
#25
ice breakers
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago (edited)
If they’re natural and spontaneous they’re not a problem, especially if the conversation then flows organically. If they’re forced and fake, f**k no.
#26
Public marriage proposal which they want to turn down.
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago
I’m glad my husband proposed to me in private. If he’d ever publicly put me on the spot like that, I would never have married him. Respect the other person’s sense of privacy and never put them in such an uncomfortable position, ever. If you can’t do that, you don’t deserve to be married, because marriage is based on trust. That includes trusting the other person to never make you uncomfortable or embarrass you, ESPECIALLY in public.
#27
Afterparties.
You mean there's more stuff to do after the stuff we planned on doing? I only have so much energy to deal with people and it was already used up.
#28
A total surprise party for me at my place with everyone and their significant other so I’m essentially the 49th wheel at my own party. Kill me now.
Edit: I exaggerated the number but I have been a 9th wheel at a couples party (I did NOT know it was going to be all couples) but glad to know this is so relatable 🥲
TheAquarius1978 2 years ago
Do that to me, and i'l be exiting the same door i entered 10 seconds later, i really really don't like surprise parties to me, or any other type of party for that matter.
#29
A large wedding. Being the center of attention for an entire day sounds f*****g terrible. Especially with a lot of family members I don’t particularly care for, or haven’t seen in years and having to pretend like I’m happy to see them and “oh my gosh it’s been soooo looong”.
Nooooo thank you.
Mother Of Magpies 2 years ago
Literally my worst nightmare. Been in a relationship for 27 years. But I will not ever ever EVER get married. Mostly for this reason.
#30
Being asked to do some group activity on such short notice and being put on the spot without having a legitimate reason for not wanting to do it aside from “I just don’t feel like it”
What do you think ?
K- THULU 2 years ago
Yep... All of the above... Except the socializing ones.... Haven't done that for 20 years...
Load More Replies...
ItsJess 2 years ago
My daily dilemma is figuring out a route in my neighborhood when I'm walking the dog that will result in the least amount of contact with neighbors. I have one lady (who is very kind, I just am terrible at talking to strangers) who actually comes out of her house if she hears us going by (like if she hears my dog bark). There's another lady who is always doing yard work outside who expects me to stop and make small talk even though it makes me incredibly uncomfortable. She hates dogs yet always tries to pet my dog. Our trainer finally got us these patches to stick on her harness that say "PLEASE DONT PET ME". I love taking walks outside, and the weather is getting great, but I have to always think about the time of day and where it might be safe for us to walk with minimal interaction.
Hey! 2 years ago
I had found this on Pinterest a while ago but never could use it until now. I-regret-t...5bbde1.jpg 
K- THULU 2 years ago
Yep... All of the above... Except the socializing ones.... Haven't done that for 20 years...
Load More Replies... ItsJess 2 years ago
My daily dilemma is figuring out a route in my neighborhood when I'm walking the dog that will result in the least amount of contact with neighbors. I have one lady (who is very kind, I just am terrible at talking to strangers) who actually comes out of her house if she hears us going by (like if she hears my dog bark). There's another lady who is always doing yard work outside who expects me to stop and make small talk even though it makes me incredibly uncomfortable. She hates dogs yet always tries to pet my dog. Our trainer finally got us these patches to stick on her harness that say "PLEASE DONT PET ME". I love taking walks outside, and the weather is getting great, but I have to always think about the time of day and where it might be safe for us to walk with minimal interaction.
Hey! 2 years ago
I had found this on Pinterest a while ago but never could use it until now. I-regret-t...5bbde1.jpg
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