Can you be an introvert and hate being alone?

[Anonymous]

I don't like being alone, I never have but I get nervous around people and groups. Could I be an introvert that simply doesn't enjoy being alone?

[Anonymous]

Maybe you have social anxiety.

[Anonymous]

My DH is quiet in a big group but pefers not to be alone. He doesn't have social anxiety he just is pretty quiet in a bigger group. But if he's with 1 or 2 people he is witty, charming and fun to talk to.

[Anonymous]

My dad is like this. He likes having people in the house, but not necessarily the same room. He likes peace and quiet and being left alone. But when my mom travels without him, he is always falling all over her when she comes home. He fawns over her for about 20 minutes, then goes to another room with his book.

[Anonymous]

YES!

I don't get why people think introverts can't get lonely. We're still human...

[Anonymous]

Yes my mother is like that. She wants people around but doesn't want to talk or engage with them. Also, no listening to the radio in the car even though no one is talking. Fun times.

[Anonymous]

I don't buy it. Introverts do like being alone, because it's how they recharge. They can still get lonely, though, and can still be very outgoing and enjoy people.

The most difficult thing must be to be an extrovert who is shy or has social anxiety. Extroverts like having people around, and being alone drains them. But that doesn't mean an extrovert is automatically outgoing or that they really enjoy people.

OP, you sound like an extrovert with social anxiety.

[Anonymous]

I second the extrovert with anxiety thought.

And I say that as a mild extrovert with mild anxiety.

Try therapy.

[Anonymous]

I'm an introvert who likes being around people and would prefer to always have at least one other person around. I just hate large groups of people, but I like to have people to to talk to when I feel like chatting! When I'm alone, I can go way too far inside my head and start to go a little crazy.

Labels are tough, because there are so many types of people!

[Anonymous]

the only person i like being with better than being myself is my DW. if she's not with me, i'd prefer being alone by far.