An extroverted person can experience social anxiety. But being introverted and socially anxious can be true.

We have mistakenly associated introversion with social anxiety for a very long time. It’s common to hear individuals claim to be introverted or to struggle with social anxiety. Famous scientists have said that anxiety gets in the way of extroversion. This statement merely suggests that you have an introverted personality trait and that your anxiety is a result of traumatic events, difficult circumstances, and problems from your past. Oftentimes, “Shyness” is confused with introversion, but this is untrue. Being afraid of being around people or engaging in conversation with them is the feeling known as “shyness.” But when interacting with a lot of people or being extroverted for a while, introverted people are more apt to feel tired and exhausted.

I was watching some vlogs on YouTube last week when all of a sudden a suggestion for a video with the title “Severe Social Anxiety V/s Being an Introvert” appeared on my channel. I chose the video where American clinical psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula, who is certified, went into great depth about the distinctions between introversion and social anxiety. She explained the distinction between introversion and social anxiety, stating that introversion is more of an inward reflection in which people prefer to be by themselves rather than interact with large crowds, whereas social anxiety is an irrational fear of being judged, harmed, or having negative thoughts about other people and their work.

She goes on to say that social worry impairs both social and professional functioning. According to her explanation of social and occupational impairment, you are so socially anxious that you are skipping out on social occasions in your life like attending weddings, making toasts at friends’ weddings, or missing out on significant job promotions. Being by yourself does not imply that you are unhappy or unworthy. Simply put, you prefer to spend time alone and with small groups of individuals. Additionally, you might experience fatigue or exhaustion after finishing your occupational task. You enjoy working by yourself and don’t avoid your job out of dread.

What Does Introversion Mean or What Does Being an Introvert Mean?

In or around the 1920s, Swiss psychotherapist Carl Jung developed the terms introversion and extroversion. All individuals, according to Jung, have natural tendencies that lead to fundamental differences in how they perceive the world. An introverted personality trait involves reflecting on your actions and ideas before starting or starting a conversation. If we narrow our definition of introversion, we find that people with this personality type prefer to form ideas and thoughts in their minds before speaking them publicly. Because of this, most introverts speak more slowly or withhold their answers.

People with introverted personality characteristics enjoy spending time alone and engaging in solitary pursuits such as writing, reading, watching movies, travelling alone, or engaging in meditation. They readily experience too much overwhelming stimulation during social interactions. Although their internal satisfaction and well-being may increase their conceptual interest and comprehension, sometimes their modesty and slow answers cause others to mistake them for inactive individuals who have no concepts or ideas about anything. Despite the fact that they dislike public debates, study indicates that they frequently debate or express their opinions through writing and art.

There are various subtypes and types of introverts, and it is likely accurate that these individuals experience social anxiety. But that does not imply that they despise or dread interacting with people. They simply don’t enjoy or want to engage in this one-on-one, draining group contact. Additionally, social anxiousness is a common complication for nervous individuals who are thrust into outgoing environments. For instance, it is normal for an extrovert to experience anxiety if they are forced to spend their entire week and day in a single space without attending any events, gatherings, or buddy groups. Similar to this, an introverted person who values quality time alone or intimate gatherings is exposed to the packed party or musical event. Normally, they are likely to become anxious.

Some essential components of introversion include:

• possessing excellent listening abilities
• carefully weigh your choices before deciding, avoid conflict if possible, and
• express yourself through writing or art

Additionally, some study psychologists have classified introversion as an ego-syntonic condition. a condition in which individuals experience harmony within their egos, are relaxed, and appreciate their thoughts, conversations, and stories of minds. And this does not inevitably imply that they are egotistical or intolerant of others. They aren’t sad or depressed either because nobody desires to feel that way. People who are introverted at work don’t experience the social anxiety of being teased or made light of for their appearance. While working, they might experience fatigue or weariness after being outgoing for a while.

What precisely is social anxiety?

Social anxiety is the term used to describe having panic attacks or feeling dread in social situations. It is classified as a severe mental health disorder on the ICD-10 (International Classification of Disease—10th revision) list by the World Health Organization. It’s common for us to experience some anxiety or fear when beginning a new job, meeting new people, or attending a formal or casual gathering. However, those who experience social anxiety feel ridiculed in front of others or themselves and ruminate on these events for weeks or months. After the official meeting, they begin to overthink everything again, which increases their anxiety about forthcoming events.

According to study, people who struggle with social anxiety are more likely to worry that they will say or do something embarrassing or humiliating, such as blush, stare constantly, shake, sweat, or look tense. They may also worry that they will come off as dull, stupid, or incompetent. Most frequently, social anxiety in children manifests as a sudden emotional outburst like weeping or behavioural changes like throwing tantrums. Adults or young people, however, noticed indications of disengagement from school or their jobs.

According to study, people who struggle with social anxiety are more likely to worry that they will say or do something embarrassing or humiliating, such as blush, stare constantly, shake, sweat, or look tense. They may also worry that they will come off as dull, stupid, or incompetent. Most frequently, social anxiety in children manifests as a sudden emotional outburst like weeping or behavioural changes like throwing tantrums. Adults or young people, however, noticed indications of disengagement from school or their jobs. People who struggle with social anxiety are more apt to act, say, or behave a certain way in public. When carving an image in front of a sizable gathering or at work, they’ll probably be self-conscious. When people turn to alcohol, drugs, or other unhealthy substances in order to keep their normalcy, social anxiety becomes severe.

Several crucial ideas regarding social anxiety include:

• Feeling frustrated or lonely because you find it difficult to connect with others in the way you’d like;
• Frequently feel anxious about doing something embarrassing in public;
• Avoid interacting with people you don’t know well;
• Fixate on the possibility of social blunders, such as forgetting someone’s name or sneezing during a lecture

Conclusion

Positively associated with run-down feelings, introversion is a personality type in which brain chemicals operate. compared to extroversion, which causes the same brain molecules to buzz with excitement. In a public workplace, introverts are more likely to listen to the workers than to speak. Two to three individuals stimulate and recharge their energy. The majority of introverts are excellent workers who excel in their professions. Because they like their alone time, people frequently keep things to themselves.

Negativity or unfavourable perceptions of oneself are the main causes of social anxiety. People with social anxiety frequently display indications of withdrawal from the workplace and experience severe and extreme fear. They also have headaches, nausea, and panic episodes. People who are anxious start to lose themselves in their various activities, jobs, or homes and suffer from mental trauma. Sometimes people make the mistake of killing themselves out of dread that they will be judged unfairly, humiliated, or talked about in society.

There are many misconceptions and untruths about introversion and social anxiety that need to be dispelled. Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung first identified the personality characteristic of introversion in 1920. Numerous studies have been performed in the past that have distinguished between social anxiety and introversion. Because of long-term stress, pain, suffering, bullying, genes, or abuse, social phobia frequently gets in the way of people’s personalities. While social anxiety is a severe mental illness that requires careful consideration, introversion is not a disease. When addressing such issues or discussing social anxiety and introversion, there is still a lot of knowledge and educational introspection needed.

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