Introverts tend to be misunderstood in our society.
They don’t dislike people, and they don’t just want to be left alone.
These differences aren’t absolute.
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It all depends on where someone falls on the introvert-extrovert spectrum.
Understanding what makes introverts different from extroverts can help you determine which stress management techniques work best for you.
Introverts often enjoy people as much as extroverts and are often very good friends to those they care about.
However, they are drained by human interaction, while extroverts are energized by it.
And thats OK.
What Causes Introvert Stress?
What introverts find stressful can also differ from what extroverts find stressful.
For example, you might find that social gatherings leave you feeling drained and exhausted.
Normally, you probably have ways of dealing with this.
Socialization can become a source of stress when you don’t get enough time to yourself to recharge.
Overstimulation
Where extroverts enjoy new situations, introverts get overwhelmed with novel or unpredictable experiences.
Loneliness
Introverts enjoy alone time, but they also need social support and interaction as well.
Over time, you might find yourself feeling isolated andlonely, which can be a significant source of stress.
Unfortunately, introverts tend to report lower levels of happiness and life satisfaction.
Other techniques are more suited to introverts.
Here are some ideas to consider.
Journaling brings severalresearch-proven health and stress management benefits.
Journaling can relieve stress for just about anyone, but it’s particularly suited to introverts.
Examine Your Thoughts
Negative thoughts can increase your experience of stress.
If your space is chaotic, this becomes more difficult.
Expressing gratitudefor the people in your lifetothe people in your lifecan increase your life satisfaction and strengthen yourrelationshipsatisfaction.
(People love feeling appreciated, which can encourage others to express their appreciation for you, too.)
So let people know when you appreciate them and why.
you could alsomaintain a gratitude journalto expand your tendency to notice these things.
This provides an advantage.
It’s all about being realistically optimistic!
It’s OK to recharge.
Give yourself the time and space it’s crucial that you deal with introvert stress.
Pushing yourself too hard just create more stress and makes it harder to cope.
It’s the introvert version of “fake it ‘til you make it.”
Unfortunately, introverts often underestimate the amount of positive emotion they’ll experience when they do this.
You may be surprised by how much you enjoy it!
Challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone a bit.
Say yes to a social invitation, like spending a night out with a few friends.
They key is to start small, pace yourself, and give yourself plenty of time to recharge.
Practice Self-Compassion
The world sometimes seems set up for extroverts.
People also tend to judge introverts unfairly.
For example, they are often mischaracterized as misanthropic, anxious, or shy.
We all have our strengths and weaknesses.
The most important thing to remember is that self-compassion is valuable.
Being Introvert Has Benefits, Too!
Introverts are less prone to hide negative emotionsand are less stressed because of it.
This in itself is important to know.
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