Introversion or social anxiety? An important question! For while introverts only need time for themselves, timid people should face their fear. How to distinguish both? Let us tell you here!
Sometimes introverts do not have it easy. Because of their shyness, many find it difficult to assert themselves in everyday life and make them noticeable. After work, directly with colleagues, what to drink? For most introverts just exhausting! But when they need time for themselves, they are looked at (by extroverts) uncomprehendingly. Bredouille! Thereby, introversion is as much a characteristic of the human personality as sensitivity, a sense of sarcasm or curiosity: it lies with some of us in nature and that is also completely okay!
However, at first sight, introversion often looks like social anxiety. To name just a few things in common:
Both introverted and socially anxious people …
- feel exhausted after social activities or a lot of contact with others
- avoid events with a lot of people
- often look for reasons and excuses to avoid social activities
- feel overwhelmed by (many) people around them
But this likelihood of confusion is a problem. For while introversion is a character trait, there is usually something behind social anxiety that should be dealt with – otherwise it can turn into a disorder in the worst case scenario. This means: Introverted people should deal with their feelings in a different way than anxious (and basically treated differently …). That is why it is important to know the differences between introversion and social anxiety.
Introversion vs. Social anxiety: 3 differences according to psychologists
1. Introverts can enjoy time with others
A game night with friends, a concert of your favorite band and also the Christmas party with your colleagues – all things that introverts enjoy while they participate! Only they need afterwards (and best before) just time for themselves to refuel. This is the most important difference between an introverted and an extroverted person: the introvert gains new energy from being alone, the extrovert from the interaction with others.
On the other hand, those who have social anxieties will usually feel uncomfortable and stressed at the Christmas party or the game night – and be exhausted afterwards, but above all happy to have the situation behind them.
2. Socially anxious people feel like the pink elephant in the room
People with social anxiety often feel they are being watched or particularly noticeable. When they have to talk to somebody, everything they say is funny to them and they are over-cautious and reflective of their own statements. Those who are introverts usually do not know that in this extreme form.
3. Introverts get used to their needs
As well as curious people, introverts usually learn to live with their personality over time and adapt to it. In the case of the socially overly anxious, however, fear usually grows over time – partly because they are still afraid of being marginalized because of it and more likely to suppress and hide it than to deal with it.