So, What Does “Introvert” Mean, Anyway?

What does “introvert” mean exactly? Here is a brief overview for anyone who may or may not have heard what “introvert” and “extrovert” means:

Introverts are more than just “nerdy” or “shy.” As I like to say, they are the thinkers. Personally, I usually have a constant monologue in my head, but I don’t say much. You can see how social situations could be tricky. You’re supposed to be “on” and the life of the party, which is just not in our nature.

Introverts would rather read or do something relatively quiet instead of socializing with a large group. In large groups everyone seems to know how to talk over the noise, and follow multiple conversations. An introvert might get lost in the shuffle or feel invisible in this type of setting.

If there’s something that requires our undivided attention, all noise must be turned off or turned down as much as possible.

Extoverts on the other hand love to socialize. They are usually really good at making small talk with several people at a party or office, for example. They seem to easily make friends with anyone.

Extroverts wear their hearts on their sleeve. This sounds scary to me, because I have a lot of walls. You always know what an extrovert is thinking, because they often tell you without being asked. If introverts are the thinkers, extoverts are the talkers. It’s not that they don’t think. It’s just that they are more likely to think things through out loud.

I noticed that while I need complete silence when I read, others have music on or are perfectly at home reading in front of the TV.

Matbe it’s just me but I noticed that while extroverts like “loud” colors (yellow, red, orange, or anything bright), introverts like more subtle colors.

Funny observation: The social ones/extroverts are often afraid of the quiet ones/introverts. They look at us as though we are plotting to kill them. I guess it’s scary because they don’t know what we’re really thinking???

Anyway, I did some light research. It turns out that introverts get more blood flow to the frontal lobes, which is responsible for memory, problem solving, and planning. Extroverts get more blood flow to other areas of the brain realated to sensory and emotion. This finding more or less expains why extoverts need more stimuli. It’s hard to explain. So, I’m leaving a link here:

https://www.simplypsychology.org/introvert-extrovert.html

And here:

https://greatist.com/grow/extrovert-vs-introvert#Bottom-line

So, what do you do if you are an introvert that feels isolated and lonely? I’ve heard it said that it helps to make friends with like-minded people. Some suggestions I have gotten include an app called Bumble. It’s more than just a dating app where you swipe left or swipe right. You can use BFF mode to find friends or Bizz to help with business networking. Others are MeetUp.com and FaceBook groups. From what I can tell if you don’t find the group you are looking for, you can start one yourself. Other suggestions are to see if there are any groups you might be interested in at your school (assuming you’re still in school) or place of worship. You might also volunteer with a charity that has meaning to you.

With Covid coming to an end soon, it will be esier to reconnect with old friends or make new ones.

My goal for this post was for you to have a better understanding of yourself and those around you as well as maybe have a few suggestions. If I thnk of other ways to socialize and/or meet people, I will make another post. Any feeback or suggestions welcome.

Best of luck,

Vanessa

Side note: I didn’t do this on purpose, but the young adult in my featured image is reading 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think by Brianna Wiest. It looks interesting, because most books I’ve read about depression or self help are about changing the way you think. I might buy it for myself.