There's no doubt about it: Introverts love alone time. And it's not just about relishing an evening alone — introverts need regular solitude to function. Alone time is when we quietly process life, enjoy unaccompanied activities (like reading), and recharge our batteries away from life.
Introverts may enjoy spending time alone in part because of acetylcholine. According to Laney, this chemical may produce a happy feeling for introverts when they do an activity that focuses them inward, such as quietly reflecting or enjoying a hobby like reading, painting, or gaming.
While too much socializing is overwhelming, solitude is intrinsic to regaining that spent energy. After being alone, introverts feel strengthened and restored, ready to face the world again (or at least Zoom). No one, regardless of their personality, can bounce around all the time.
Contrary to popular opinion, hanging out alone can mean all sorts of fun activities. It may not be the most favorite thing for an extrovert to do, but an introverted person will enjoy every single minute of a chill, at-home activity such as reading a book or watching a movie alone.
On average, introverts really do prefer solitude more than extroverts, and extroverts are more driven to engage in social interactions that elevate their social attention and status (more about this later).
Introverts are looked down upon for lack of good 'communication skills'. Right from an early age, introverts have to compete very hard with peers, who seem to have no problem in public or interpersonal speaking. What seems to be effortless for peers is actually the most difficult task for an introverted child.
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.
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.”
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.
Are introverts clingy? Introversion isn't a sign of clinginess either way, explains Aaron. An introverted person can be clingy or prefer distance, same as any non-introverted person.
Introverts can be perfectly happy alone, or terribly lonely in a crowd. But if introverts are at any particular risk for loneliness, it could be because we set a high bar for friendship. We desire and require deep connections and would rather be lonely alone than in a crowd.
Introverts want a mind-to-mind connection where you share your inner world with them including what makes you tick. You also could try asking your partner questions. Many introverts will share their thoughts and feelings in response to questions rather than volunteering information. So, be patient and ask your partner.
What Is a Loner Personality? Loners are people who actively try to stay as far away as possible from social interactions. They prefer solitude over the company of others and tend to enjoy being preoccupied with their thoughts. Loners usually don't mind sitting idly or waiting, so long as they are alone when doing it.
Introverts tend to be thoughtful and have exceptional powers of concentration; they can focus on a single task for long periods of time. However, an introvert's strength can turn into a weakness if it becomes unbalanced.
While it's true that both types of personality can experience problems with their mental health, it's widely accepted and proven that introverts are more susceptible to depression than many other personality types.
Angry Introverts are in a sensitive state, and they can easily become overstimulated by too much social contact. Interestingly, Introverts won't usually respond to their anger by leaving altogether.
Being asked to speak during a meeting, a surprise party or trip, or unexpectedly running into an acquaintance at the store can feel overwhelming to an introvert. Introverts may also experience more stress when they don't have time to decompress or recharge themselves with some alone time.
This means that introverts may process more information per second than extroverts, which helps explain why introverts are prone to overthinking.
According to a study published by the Health Psychology journal, introverts are more likely to suffer from sleep deprivation than extroverts are. They are also more likely to have a lot of nightmares or periods of wakefulness. Because of this, introverts are more likely to feel more tired or less alert during the day.
You might feel physically tired, stressed, angry, or irritable. Social exhaustion can feel like hitting a wall. You may feel as if you don't have the energy to get out of bed, let alone be in a room with other people.
And when an introvert deeply cares for someone and life allows their paths to cross again with no hard feelings, they will gladly welcome them back in. Even though the introverts you know and love may not tell you how they feel, these are a few of the many ways they show you how much they care.
As an introvert you probably don't talk to yourself any more than everybody else; but introverts don't overdo being self-reflective. Learning lessons is be good, but don't overdo reflection, ensure it's useful and remember to doubt the doubts, not your abilities.