In a follow-up to the human-sized hamster ball post from 7/15, here’s a list from BuzzFeed:
27 Problems Only Introverts Will Understand.
Um, yep, yep, and double-yep.
Being introverted has definitely caused me problems in my life. It’s easy to tell someone, “Oh, get over it,” but it’s not as simple as that.
Those who are introverts, I know you get it.
Those who aren’t, it’s not something easy to explain. The stimuli, especially to someone like me with fibromyalgia, can be physically and mentally overwhelming. What energizes an extrovert can send me to bed for a couple of days (or longer) afterward if it triggers a flare.
I’m lucky that Hubby and Sir “get it” and accommodate me. I don’t think Sir totally understands it, because He’s an extrovert to the Nth, but He’s learned to recognize the signs of when I’m getting overwhelmed and need a break if we’re out.
How do you cope with being an introvert?
I also have been diagnosed with fibro, and it seems that the only people who “get it” are other people who suffer from it and our spouses (well, most of the time).
I’ve been accused of faking and told that there’s no such disease, and that my doctor is just too lazy to dig deeper. I don’t tell very many people about this because I get tired of having to explain that this issue can’t be solved by popping a couple of Tylenol and facing the world.
I’ve actually been an introvert all my life. My mom, dad, sister, and I were happy in our little cocoon. We never went out to parties or family functions. We’d make excuses and then just stay home…and READ. I was given a book for my first Christmas and, since then, I’ve never gone without. Reading is my coping mechanism. There is nothing more comforting than a good book, a blanket, and a cat or two. A lot of times, that takes the pain away, even if it’s just for an hour or two.
Thanks for the post.
Boy — about half of that list is SO me. No fibro here, but a serious case of lone-wolf-itis. 😉
I can socialize just fine — for limited stretches of time. But just as that list indicates, I often find it exhausting rather than invigorating — or both invigorating AND exhausting. And I absolutely NEEEED time to breathe and be alone. I do NOT recharge in company.
I cope with it by living alone! And I refuse to feel guilty when I choose not to answer the phone or an email. Thank God for caller ID. 😉
Yep, reading was my life growing up. 🙂 I’m lucky that my family is understanding, and they saw the drastic change in me before my condition was diagnosed. I’ve found remarkable help though from supplements. If you search my blog for my other fibro posts, you can see what I’ve started taking that’s really helped a lot. I still have bad days, but they’re not nearly as bad or as frequent as they used to be.
@Amazon Doc – Yep, Caller ID is my friend sometimes. LOL I warn everyone I’m easier to get hold of via text or email than phone sometimes, especially if my tinnitus is really bad.
Yeah. What y’all said.
Can’t tell you the number of times I’ve sat at the sideline of a social or family function, overwhelmed, unable to converse and trying to hide it (bet I look like a dashboard doggie with the fake smile glued on, nodding my head and hoping no-one asks me a direct question)…and wishing I’d brought my own car so I could sneak out and hide in it or just *poof* disappear altogether….
How do I cope? well, first off, I know I have moved along the I-E spectrum during my life and IMO have shown a range from mild E to mild to medium I. When on the E side, I can’t wait to be around people. When on the I side, I have to cope and deal with the very same interactions. I charge up before I have to discharge. I try to work alone whenever possible. I pick tasks so that I do them solo. I find that extra dreams make resetting and recharging faster and more likely.
So… making me admit out loud so to speak.. who I am ? I was diagnosed with epilepsy as a little kid, way back when it was still misunderstood. and parents thought their kids would catch it from me.. when in fact seizures began after a head injury…but it meant I spent my childhood in books.. I am okay now… and stay where I am comfortable. I hate big groups and do get tired quickly with too much going on around me. My family love me anyway and make allowances… I can relate to Kenna but have got to a stage in my life where I just don’t care about other people judging harshly through ignorance. That is about them not me. Likewise, thankyou for keeping it real, Tymber.
@MJ – Been there, done that. LOL
@Pg – I have times where others can energize me, but it needs to be a small group I feel close to, doing something that relaxes me/that I enjoy. Large groups, or groups of people I don’t know/don’t know well can totally drain me.
@Vanessa – Glad you’ve got your family’s backing and support. And yes, definitely, books were my friend growing up.