In today’s world, it can be very hard to be an introvert. Introverts face many struggles, as we navigate extrovert-biased workplaces and social situations. Often, introverts feel exhausted and overwhelmed by the sheer pressure to be more extroverted.
One challenge we face is that introverts like to have ample alone time to recharge and feel at our best. Unfortunately, not everyone understands this. Introverts may also feel awkward in social gatherings, especially when there’s a lot of small talk involved. In fact, our disdain for small talk may lead us to avoid meeting new people altogether.
Some might think of this as a ‘weird’ or ‘antisocial’ behavior, but for introverts it is a means of survival.
If you’re an introvert and you can relate, remember you’re not alone (as much as you’d like to be). There are millions of introverts out there who face several challenges.
That’s why I’ve put together a list of the top problems introverts will understand.
1. We Don’t Enjoy Parties
The first common problem we introverts face is we usually don’t enjoy parties. Although we may like going to social events and engaging with new people for short periods of time, we are quickly drained by big parties.
For an introvert, a deep conversation with a loved one or our partner feels more fulfilling than being the life of the party. If you buy a vintage 20th anniversary gift for an introvert partner, they will cherish it like the most valuable present of their life. After all, as quiet types, we appreciate gestures that go beyond words.
2. We Feel Underestimated
One of the biggest challenges introverts struggle with is not feeling as confident as many extroverts do. We often feel underestimated, because we are hesitant about sharing our thoughts with those around us.
An introvert could be the most intelligent person around but will find it hard to talk and vocalize our opinion in public. This leads to frustration in many work environments where louder, less competent people are promoted at a faster rate than those who might be more intelligent, but quiet.
3. We Don’t Like The Phone
Introverts tend to hate talking on the phone. After all, the phone takes away many of the visual cues that make awkward silences less awkward.
A ringing phone is usually an unwelcome interruption to an introvert who is happily occupied with our own thoughts. If we’re not expecting the call, we may feel tongue-tied since introverts like to prepare ahead for important conversations.
4. We Don’t Love Teamwork
While an introvert can be a valuable addition to any team, we don’t necessarily like working in groups.
This is because introverts excel at deep concentration and solitary focus. Working in groups means that our thoughts are overpowered by louder personalities.
Introverts also feel less comfortable speaking up during group conversations, preferring to listen or daydream. This leads others to think that we’re not as smart and hardworking when the opposite is usually true!
If you struggle with any or all of these introvert problems, don’t feel bad. Introverts have many strengths that help us to shine, such as creativity, intuition, focus, and keen observation skills.
The goal is not to ‘fix’ ourselves and become extroverts. But, rather, to work with our introverted strengths, so that we can share our beautiful gifts with the world.
I don’t mind a party with less than 20 people, as long as I know all of them. But a party full of strangers is definitely not for me.
And the other three problems are all 100% hits for me. Not liking phone calls and teamwork and feeling underestimated is something I live with.
You are not alone. I find that my friends think I am broken and try to fix me. They can not understand why I NEED to be alone. All my life, I have been considered wrong for not being sociable. Spent my entire 60 year life feeling like I don’t belong that no one understands how anyone could possibly WANT to be alone. I need it. I crave it and I love my time alone. I have lots of friends though, and people like me and I love my friends. I just don’t’ need to spend every waking minute everyday with them or anyone. And their feelings get hurt if I don’t. A lot of pressure from the rest of the world to be like them.
This statement is true for me as well!!
I also don’t mind 2 or 3 people around me but more than that makes me uncomfortable
but i like who i am ,who God created me to be. it is most of the time irritating when you are in a meeting with a lot of extroverted people and unfortunately they always expect introverts to be like them , if you are not talking they start looking down on you. But what I can say is i am happy being an introvert and i am very creative and i have done a lot of designing for my self , i recently designed my house it has been build and so far its looking nice the way i arranged the rooms. I am also very high in terms of intuition , very focused and excellent observer. So what i can say is given a chance to choose between introverted and extroverted nature, I can still choose to be an introvert.
Because I’m an introvert, my parents sometimes insult me as a girl, because usually girls always keep quiet and most boys are hyperactive. And yes, for being an introvert and despite being a boy, I’ve two characteristics of a girl: Being silent always and bearing attacks from friends instead of revenging and fighting back.