Social fatigue or social burnout happens when you've socialized to the point that you can't do it anymore. Social exhaustion can also be called introvert burnout or introvert hangover. Although it's not a medical diagnosis, it is a valid experience that introverts and extroverts can face.
When people feel so self-conscious and anxious that it prevents them from speaking up or socializing most of the time, it's probably more than shyness. It may be an anxiety condition called social phobia (also called social anxiety).
It's okay to be less-social than other people
People naturally vary in how social they are. Some have dozens of friends who they're constantly hanging out with or texting. Others have a lower drive to socialize, which can show in a variety of ways: They like to spend a lot of time alone.
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.
Being socially isolated is terribly unhealthy. Studies since the 1980s have shown that if you haven't got friends, family or community ties, your chance of dying early may be 50% higher than if you did. Social isolation is now being touted as similarly detrimental to health as smoking or not taking exercise.
Anxiety is the number one reason why people hate socializing. It can create an unbearable experience. So the natural thing to do is to avoid situations that make us feel overwhelmed. *But, it's very normal to feel nervous in social situations.
It makes sense that both introverts and extroverts would feel tired after socializing, because socializing expends energy. You have to talk, listen, and process what's being said, among other things.
Putting aside time for yourself is key for personal growth during any time in life, especially during your teenage years. Not only does it teach you about yourself, but it also helps you rest and recharge, helping you fully enjoy the next time you socialize.
People with avoidant personality disorder have chronic feelings of inadequacy and are highly sensitive to being negatively judged by others. Though they would like to interact with others, they tend to avoid social interaction due to the intense fear of being rejected by others.
Social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, is a long-term and overwhelming fear of social situations. It's a common problem that usually starts during the teenage years. It can be very distressing and have a big impact on your life. For some people it gets better as they get older.
There are many reasons why you might feel like you don't need friends. Preferring solitude, being close to members of your family, and being busy with other things are just a few factors that may play a role. Fear of being disappointed or hurt by friends can also be a contributing factor.
A small or short lasting social battery means that a person has less energy for socializing overall. It might be that they find socializing tiring, stressful, or overstimulating. As a small social battery drains quickly, these people need to recharge more often.
If you have social anxiety disorder, which is also known as social phobia, the stress of these situations is too much to handle. You might, for example, avoid all social contact because things that other people consider “normal” -- like making small talk and eye contact -- make you so uncomfortable.
It's normal to experience some nervousness when you put yourself out there, but if you feel inhibited by your shyness or that it's preventing you from socializing, it may be time to talk to someone about potential underlying mental health concerns, such as social anxiety, agoraphobia, or generalized anxiety disorder.
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.
The effects of an introvert hangover, also known as social burnout, can last from a couple of hours to a couple of weeks. 'It's like jet lag,' continues Johnson. 'You don't get over that after one goodnight's sleep, and I've known introverts to take weeks to recover from a big social event.
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.
There are a number of reasons. Some people might do it because silence gives them anxiety. Others might do it to avoid the awkwardness of being in a quiet room with another person. Still others might do it to avoid the moments of self-reflection that come with silence.
Don't Wait Until You Feel Like Socializing
The whole point is that you do something to interrupt your current mental state. The trap we often fall into with socializing is that we expect it to be a pleasant thing that we actively want to do, so when we don't feel like it, it makes sense just to stay home.
Our results indicate that depressive symptoms are associated with (1) spending less time in social interaction, (2) spending time with similarly depressed others, (3) spending time in pair-wise interactions rather than group interactions but not with (4) spending relatively less time with friends.
It is nice to have strong social relationships but it is not necessary for our survival or even our happiness. Simply put, it is not necessary for humans to have friends. Marson explains that many people struggle with making and keeping friends and often think very negatively of themselves because of that.
At any age there are going to be people in your area who are open to forming new friendships. Not everyone has had the same social circle for years and years and isn't interested in meeting anyone else. If you go on sites like Meetup.com you'll see people have created groups catering to all ages.