Extrovert to Introvert?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it bothers you, get checked. However, the idea that introversion needs to fixed is disturbing. Our preferences change. You may have also been an introvert all along but labeled an extrovert. Plenty of introverts like being around people and being social, but need some alone time to recharge, tend to think before they speak.

This is so very true. I believe I was always an introvert who had some very extroverted ways. IMO society encourages and rewards extroversion, so I think I claimed it because I liked the description better. I'm older now and have therefore decided to accept the truth of who I am. Proud introvert.

[Anonymous]

Oh wow, do I agree with this. I'm in my mid-40s and am also just kind of tired of people. Same old, same old. I'd just as soon stay home and be cozy with my family and close friends.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes people are actually more on the introvert side of the spectrum, but in their youth they feel that they need to get out there and be more social because of pressure from friends and family. As we get older, we feel more confident about our own preferences and feel less of a need to do what others want us to do.

[Anonymous]

Were all your hobbies ones you did out of the house with other people? If you have no hobbies, that sounds like you could be depressed. If you have hobbies you do by yourself, then that just sounds more introverted. Hormones could also be at play.

[TwistdMike]

DW and I joke about me being selectively social.

After being “on” at work, I definitely enjoy spending time with just the DW and DCs during my off time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it bothers you, get checked. However, the idea that introversion needs to fixed is disturbing. Our preferences change. You may have also been an introvert all along but labeled an extrovert. Plenty of introverts like being around people and being social, but need some alone time to recharge, tend to think before they speak.

No one here has said introversion needs to be fixed. We've said that if it's depression, OP should get diagnosed/treated. I'm the poster who first mentioned depression, and if OP had just said that she finds as she gets older she needs more downtime to recover from social events, I wouldn't have thought twice about it. But OP mentioned feeling disconnected from friends and family, viewing herself as "boring" and "not really fun to be around," and she's stopped engaging hobbies and activities she used to enjoy. Those are all red flags for depression.

[Anonymous]

I am the same way and my theory is that it has to do with screens: I get all my socializing/entertainment needs met on social media and when I try to socialize with real people I get bored and tired very quickly. I am 46. It is really pathetic.

[Anonymous]

It is too much of an effort for me to be social. I'm too tired by kids, house, work, daily grind, so there's no energy left to be extroverted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it bothers you, get checked. However, the idea that introversion needs to fixed is disturbing. Our preferences change. You may have also been an introvert all along but labeled an extrovert. Plenty of introverts like being around people and being social, but need some alone time to recharge, tend to think before they speak.

No one here has said introversion needs to be fixed. We've said that if it's depression, OP should get diagnosed/treated. I'm the poster who first mentioned depression, and if OP had just said that she finds as she gets older she needs more downtime to recover from social events, I wouldn't have thought twice about it. But OP mentioned feeling disconnected from friends and family, viewing herself as "boring" and "not really fun to be around," and she's stopped engaging hobbies and activities she used to enjoy. Those are all red flags for depression.

It was in the subtext when the "diagnosis" was depression without considering other likely possibilities.