Typically, social fatigue occurs when a person has socialized to the point of being unable to socialize anymore. It can happen to anyone (and to be clear, social fatigue was common before we'd ever heard of COVID-19). However, introverts are more likely to experience social exhaustion.
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.
However, some ways you can ensure you regularly recharge your social battery might include scheduling in time after social activities to recharge, exercise, allow yourself 'guilt free' rest, taking a break from technology and communicating your boundaries and capacity with others.”
Health issues can make socializing very unpleasant. There may be deeper issues in terms of physical and mental health problems, which can increase the difficulty of social interactions. Having past negative or traumatic experiences. Many people who grew up in a chaotic home may not know the best ways to socialize.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Hanging around people who are too much for us is also tiring, because it taxes our brain to try to keep up with them. It's possible you often feel drained while socializing because you're usually around people who don't really do it for you.
An introvert hangover, also called introvert burnout, occurs when an introvert has spent too much time interacting with others and they feel exhausted and drained. Many people don't realize that introverts can be very outgoing and enjoy social interactions.
Being in a bad mood or a lack of motivation is another reason you might feel anti-social. If you're unmotivated or feeling down, relating to others, working, or simply doing daily activities can be a burden. In that sense, feeling tired of talking to people is perfectly normal if you're in a bad mood or unmotivated.
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.
The degree to which you are introverted or extroverted is influenced by genetics. Out of all the personality traits that have been studied, introversion/extroversion is one of the most strongly hereditary ones. Nonetheless, a lot of environmental factors—like how you're raised—influence it too.
"The findings in here suggest (and it is no surprise) that those with more intelligence and the capacity to use it ... are less likely to spend so much time socializing because they are focused on some other longer term objective," she said. Think of the really smart people you know.
You might be an introvert if you:
Feel exhausted after socializing with too many people. Quickly lose energy in social settings. Prefer spending time with a small group of close friends. Get overstimulated or distracted in social environments.
People with avoidant personality disorder avoid social situations due to fear of rejection and being judged by others. However, because most people with this condition want to develop relations, they may be more likely to respond to the work of psychotherapy.
Introverts enjoy activities they can do alone or with just a few others. So, it's not surprising that so many introverted, gifted children love to read. They also tend to prefer activities that allow for creative expression, like creative writing, music, and art.
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.
This means that introverts may process more information per second than extroverts, which helps explain why introverts are prone to overthinking.
If someone is socially anxious, insecure, and afraid of rejection, they may believe they're not interested in people. If they're afraid of starting conversations they may feel people are so boring that they don't want to leave the house and talk to anyone at all.
If you have been feeling this way for at least 6 months and these feelings make it hard for you to do everyday tasks—such as talking to people at work or school—you may have social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety disorder is an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others.
Sometimes a lack of connection might be related to the presence of a mental health condition such as anxiety or depression. You should talk to your healthcare provider or a therapist if you are experiencing symptoms that are concerning or making it difficult to function as you normally do in your daily life.