How To Care For An Introvert

I have always been an introvert. It's a part of who I am and something I have come to like about myself. In fact, chances are, either someone close to you is introverted or you are also an introvert (in which case hi, it's nice to meet you). So, if you find that we are just too difficult to understand, let me share a few thoughts to help enlighten you!

1. If I’m quiet, it doesn’t mean I’m mad at you. Nine times out of ten, I’m actually just thinking or day dreaming about something random. 

2. Meeting new people isn’t always fun for me; it’s actually incredibly stressful. Meeting a lot of new people at once is exhausting, I have to be witty and charming for long periods of time for people I don’t know. Maybe I’ll meet someone really great, but maybe I’ll say something really stupid and offend someone. Please keep this in mind the next time you try to force an introvert into a new environment.

3. I need alone time. Being around people all day totally drains me of energy, by being alone, I can recharge and relax. It gives me time to think.**Important** Please, please, please do not interrupt my time. You taking that time away for me is the same as if someone were to deny you sleep. You would be able to function, but you would be exhausted and crabby. So, if you try to take away "me time", you might get stabbed with a fork. You have been warned.

4. Staying in is just as fun for me as going out. Please don’t think that I’m sitting by myself all alone and depressed Bridget Jones style when I stay in. I actually love being able to just put on comfy cloths and watch Netflix. It’s pretty much of my idea of a perfect night.

5. Don't pity me for whatever “life experience” you think I’m missing out on by not going out all the time. I actually have no problem with not experiencing a few of the “crazy drunken nights” you feel like I should be having. If it really means that much to you I can get drunk at home and cuddle with my dogs (while not having to deal with creepy guys trying to buy me drinks). Really, I don’t want your pity. You do you, and when you want some down time, you know where to find me!

6. Please don’t put all the attention on me. If I want people to pay attention to me, I can make it happen myself. However, when you do it for me, it makes me really embarrassed and uncomfortable. I know you mean well, but I can handle it myself.

7. Stop trying to pressure me into social situations I clearly don’t want to be in. If I don’t want to go out, nothing you say is going to make me change my mind, for reference please refer to numbers 2, 3, 4 AND 5.

8. Please don’t try to surprise me with plans. I need to time to correctly organize my day and when something is thrown at me last second it’s very stressful.

9. I’m not anti-social or even all that shy, I just like to do things on my own terms. I prefer to take things slower and really get to know a person rather than spend all of my energy being introduced to a bunch of people at once. Every now and then, I do feel like going out, but don’t be surprised if I leave early. 

10. Possibly the most important thing, please don’t tell me I need to a) loosen up, b) come out my shell, and especially not c) live a little. I find all of these really rude and insensitive. Being an introvert isn’t bad, it just means I enjoy different things and have a different set of needs.