Although it's not a medical diagnosis, it is a valid experience that introverts and extroverts can face. It can be an emotional and physical response to social overstimulation that leaves you feeling drained and exhausted. You might feel physically tired, stressed, angry, or irritable.
The level of stimulation is just about right. For the introvert, though, it's too much stimulation: too many people, too much noise, and too many conversations.
According to studies by psychologist Hans Eysenck, introverts require less stimulation from the world in order to be awake and alert than extroverts do. This means introverts are more easily over-stimulated. The flip side of introverts' sensitivity to dopamine is that they need less of it to feel happy.
An introvert may seem withdrawn when they are in fact overstimulated, so ask the introvert what they need and try not to take it personally. Encourage them to spend time alone when they need to, they will be recharged and more ready to interact when they return.
Because introverts get their energy from quiet, solitude, and downtime, prolonged time in a loud, crowded, highly stimulative environment can be draining.
A highly sensitive introvert or HSI, is someone who possesses traits of both an introvert and a highly sensitive person. An introvert, a personality type discovered by psychologist Carl Jung in 1920, is someone who is focused mainly on internal thoughts, feelings, and moods instead of seeking stimulation externally.
Introverts tend to draw energy from going inwards and being on our own whereas as extroverts tend to draw energy from things that are external to their mind. That is why overly stimulating environments can be energy draining for introverts, leaving us feeling tired, lacking in energy and even stressed.
Signs that you may be experiencing introvert burnout include physical exhaustion, irritability, anxiety, and loss of expressiveness; however, you could experience a range of other symptoms to varying degrees.
Big Crowds
Swarms of strangers can be a fear for many people for various reasons, but it is particularly common for anxious introverts. Introverts gather their energy from being alone, but that doesn't mean the “all alone in a crowd of people” thing always works.
Prolonged social hangover can result in a following introvert burnout, which can leave one feeling drained for longer periods… hours even, or sometimes for several days in a row.
If you're an introvert, you're naturally wired to lose energy when socializing or in busier environments. Once you max out, you're much more likely to find these situations overwhelming if you can't get out and recharge. (For more on Introverts, check out this post.)
Time alone, time to prepare for social situations, and following a plan are all ways an introvert deals with stress. In contrast, extroverts may find too much alone time stressful because they can't talk through their thoughts and feelings, which is how they process and manage stress.
An introvert hangover is that drained, tired, overwhelmed feeling you get when you've “overdone” socializing and have not had enough alone time to recharge. It can come from small group interactions, overstimulation from the activity itself, like an eventful concert, or a Zoom call.
Introverts can become temporarily disillusioned by incidents that leave them feeling slighted, disrespected, overlooked, or mistreated. For a few hours they may become disillusioned not just with the person who caused their anger, but with humanity in general.
Overall findings show introverts are more vulnerable than extraverts to depression and decreased mental well-being. Introverts are more likely to be compliant and have lower self-esteem than extraverts, and also have less social support than extraverts, which can be detrimental when experiencing depression.
Introverts are easily distracted by external stimuli and while they might be too nice to say anything, get very frustrated with constant interruptions when they are trying to concentrate.
But simply put, introverts just aren't as interested in pursuing the things that extroverts chase. Having a less active dopamine reward system also means that introverts may find certain levels of stimulation — like noise and activity — to be punishing and tiring.
This type of personality thrives in small groups, and prefers solitude to partying with strangers. Introverts work best in quiet environments, and feel deep satisfaction when they can focus deeply on activities that interest them. They hate to be the center of attention, and would rather work alone than in a team.
Introverts struggle with the fast pace of many organizations and offices without walls can be rough for introverts who prefer to go inward to do their best thinking. If you're an introvert, you struggle with finding quiet time to gather your thoughts, particularly at brainstorming meetings.
Noise is Distracting
Introverts are often more sensitive to noise because they're more easily distracted than extroverts. One study found that it takes significantly less noise to distract an introvert than an extrovert.
Most introverts are largely independent and not clingy, and they're generally more inclined to be polite and considerate of the impact of their behavior on others. They tend to think before they speak, whereas extroverts may blurt the first things that come to mind.