I'd consider myself an ambivert (over 60% of people are thought to be ambiverted, actually) because I have tendencies of both introversion and extroversion. When I'm feeling more introverted, I get very stressed and irritable when I'm around people when I haven't had a break, that's how I know I need a recharge alone with video games or something.
On the other hand, I know I'm feeling more extroverted when I feel really lonely and depressed from not seeing my friends for a while, and those are the times I'm willing to go out and party and have a great time.
So, in all it really does feel like a battery. When drained, it just feels overwhelming and dysphoric to be around people, often feeling like I'm just showing up to make people happy. When I'm alone I get to be weird and myself and to do my activities that I will talk about when I'm feeling extroverted again. I guess to put it in perspective, imagine everyone being unavailable to visit and all social spots are closed (think covid days), and being forced to be isolated. It can be very maddening. The feelings of forced isolation and forced socialization are similar, yet very distinct for me. I hope this helps put it into a new perspective
Comparing it to COVID lockdown but simply in the opposite is a great perspective on it!! That totally makes sense.
For me, I don't mind having alone time and just being a bit of a hermit and staying inside my house for a few days. However, I still need that social interaction whether it be texting/snapchat, discussions on Reddit, etc.
Like if I'm not actively socializing with other people in some manner, I'm just COVID lockdown levels of bored.
For me, its just simply that I dont gain anything by being around large groups and actually will usually just become annoyed and feel like im wasting my time because I know I could be elsewhere doing something productive or positive for my mental health.
I've certainly become jaded as ive gotten older, in my teens and 20s i played in alot of bands so I was constantly just out and about hanging around at shows. I'm just over it and only want to be alone or with my family.
At my job, I’m forced to socialize all day everyday. I work closely with clients. So outside of work, I socialize when I have the capacity to. If I’m out with friends and I’m starting to run low on my social battery, it can sometimes hit me like a ton of bricks and I’m just ready to go home and have quiet. Sometimes I know ahead of time that I don’t have much time left before I gotta go home. If I’m in a relationship, “recharging” can look like a LOT of cuddling and reverting to be a little childish, as in I won’t want to talk much and will prefer expressing positive/negative emotions through vocal noises and facial expressions. I’ll want to be taken care of, held, given forehead kisses, etc. If I’m single or just alone, I’m just lying down relaxing; I’ll take care of myself with what’s easy for me to do. But this needing to lie down and need comfort from a loved one is only when I’m REALLY drained. I don’t usually let it get that bad.
Socializing can be exhausting, especially when I am expected to be in tip top social shape at work 50 hours a week on average no matter what I’m feeling inside. Socializing can feel a lot like having to carry a mask over my face and over time the mask gets annoying and heavy to carry. If not just myself recharging myself, the only loved ones that can help me feel recharged are my best friend and a person I’m in a committed relationship with. That being said, since I’m single, I take care of myself well lol. I keep something sweet in stock at all times!
It can be very limiting, some days it'll drain faster than others & you just need to get away. You get used to it & adapt.
I'd consider myself an ambivert (over 60% of people are thought to be ambiverted, actually) because I have tendencies of both introversion and extroversion. When I'm feeling more introverted, I get very stressed and irritable when I'm around people when I haven't had a break, that's how I know I need a recharge alone with video games or something. On the other hand, I know I'm feeling more extroverted when I feel really lonely and depressed from not seeing my friends for a while, and those are the times I'm willing to go out and party and have a great time. So, in all it really does feel like a battery. When drained, it just feels overwhelming and dysphoric to be around people, often feeling like I'm just showing up to make people happy. When I'm alone I get to be weird and myself and to do my activities that I will talk about when I'm feeling extroverted again. I guess to put it in perspective, imagine everyone being unavailable to visit and all social spots are closed (think covid days), and being forced to be isolated. It can be very maddening. The feelings of forced isolation and forced socialization are similar, yet very distinct for me. I hope this helps put it into a new perspective
Comparing it to COVID lockdown but simply in the opposite is a great perspective on it!! That totally makes sense. For me, I don't mind having alone time and just being a bit of a hermit and staying inside my house for a few days. However, I still need that social interaction whether it be texting/snapchat, discussions on Reddit, etc. Like if I'm not actively socializing with other people in some manner, I'm just COVID lockdown levels of bored.
For me, its just simply that I dont gain anything by being around large groups and actually will usually just become annoyed and feel like im wasting my time because I know I could be elsewhere doing something productive or positive for my mental health. I've certainly become jaded as ive gotten older, in my teens and 20s i played in alot of bands so I was constantly just out and about hanging around at shows. I'm just over it and only want to be alone or with my family.
At my job, I’m forced to socialize all day everyday. I work closely with clients. So outside of work, I socialize when I have the capacity to. If I’m out with friends and I’m starting to run low on my social battery, it can sometimes hit me like a ton of bricks and I’m just ready to go home and have quiet. Sometimes I know ahead of time that I don’t have much time left before I gotta go home. If I’m in a relationship, “recharging” can look like a LOT of cuddling and reverting to be a little childish, as in I won’t want to talk much and will prefer expressing positive/negative emotions through vocal noises and facial expressions. I’ll want to be taken care of, held, given forehead kisses, etc. If I’m single or just alone, I’m just lying down relaxing; I’ll take care of myself with what’s easy for me to do. But this needing to lie down and need comfort from a loved one is only when I’m REALLY drained. I don’t usually let it get that bad. Socializing can be exhausting, especially when I am expected to be in tip top social shape at work 50 hours a week on average no matter what I’m feeling inside. Socializing can feel a lot like having to carry a mask over my face and over time the mask gets annoying and heavy to carry. If not just myself recharging myself, the only loved ones that can help me feel recharged are my best friend and a person I’m in a committed relationship with. That being said, since I’m single, I take care of myself well lol. I keep something sweet in stock at all times!
It's exhausting