Being an introvert doesn't necessarily mean you're socially awkward, but the two do sometimes overlap. Certainly, as in my case, the fear of feeling anxious and awkward in social settings can cause us to lean into our introversion.
How do I know if I am socially inept? The key signs of being socially inept or socially awkward include feeling super nervous in social situations, experiencing a lot of awkward silence in the conversation, or noticing people avoid conversation with you.
One reason why introverts make people uncomfortable is because they don't react to anything right away. Instead, they get very quiet and often are completely expressionless. Many people assume it's because introverts aren't interested, don't care, or believe whatever's out there on the table is bad, dumb, or trash.
Both introverts and extroverts can be socially anxious
It may sound counterintuitive, but it is true! Introverted and extraverted individuals may both experience social anxiety. While extroverts may enjoy socializing with others and enjoy social interaction, they may still feel anxious around others at times.
Being an introvert doesn't necessarily mean you're socially awkward, but the two do sometimes overlap. Certainly, as in my case, the fear of feeling anxious and awkward in social settings can cause us to lean into our introversion.
Learning social skills can be difficult if you weren't exposed to traditional group dynamics as a child, if you struggle with a mental illness like anxiety or depression, or even if you just didn't have a lot of positive role models when you were growing up.
An introvert is a person with qualities of a personality type known as introversion, which means that they feel more comfortable focusing on their inner thoughts and ideas, rather than what's happening externally. They enjoy spending time with just one or two people, rather than large groups or crowds.
Introverts Don't Have Low Self Esteem
Another common misconception about introverts is that they are quiet and reserved because they have low self-esteem or lack self-confidence.
Being quiet doesn't mean that you are shy or insecure. Quiet confident people exude an energy of self-assurance and strength, which is very attractive to other people. It might be quiet, but it's powerful! It also shows that you are comfortable in your own skin.
On the contrary, introverts have attractive qualities because they're active listeners. They speak less and listen more, which gets people interested in them. What makes introverts attractive is their ability to observe beyond the words people speak. They pay close attention to details and are extremely prudent.
People are intimidated by the silence.
People act rather wary and cautious around you. They tend to leave you alone, as if your silence has placed an uncrossable void around you. I mean, sometimes it's funny, but sometimes it's kind of irritating.
The expression “Beware Of The Quiet Ones” is a sign of warning because they can be manipulative, observant, and deceptive. Also, a quiet person is assumed by people as weak, idiotic, naive, pathetic, and afraid.
Sometimes being quiet and introverted is a sign that someone has a naturally shy personality. But that's not always the case. Being quiet is not always the same as being shy.
While research suggests social anxiety may be somewhat more common in introverted people, there's still a lot of variability in individual personality traits. If you're more conscientious, you might feel anxious about missing important details or giving an impression of unreliability.
Shyness is usually associated with being quiet, insecure, and/or socially anxious. Being shy is not necessarily bad. We can all feel shy from time to time, so it's alright to feel a little uncomfortable in new situations and with new people.
To most people, loneliness is not a word that meshes with introversion. Everyone knows that introverts value their alone time almost more than anything else. As Susan Cain wrote in Quiet, “Solitude matters, and for some people, it's the air they breathe.”
Many introverted people do have several close friends, but the fact remains that introverts will always need time to recharge alone. Friends fulfill important social and emotional needs, but interaction can still drain your resources.
And researchers have found 70% of introverts also are highly sensitive people. HSPs for short.
Lash out at others that are seen as betraying them or not giving them full attention. Make inappropriate comments. Poor interactions with others. Play alone or parallel play. Lack of make believe play.
Hawkley points to evidence linking perceived social isolation with adverse health consequences including depression, poor sleep quality, impaired executive function, accelerated cognitive decline, poor cardiovascular function and impaired immunity at every stage of life.
It's okay to be less-social than other people
Others have a lower drive to socialize, which can show in a variety of ways: They like to spend a lot of time alone. They're solitary by choice, not because they want to be around people more often, but can't. They have solo hobbies they enjoy more than being with people.