Are you an introvert? Do you think it's related to depression and anti-socialism?

[Mahuta ♥]

Edit: The fact of this response being so long and incomprehensible. is also a sign of being introvert. I had thought of it too long and wanted to pass too many ideas at the same time And, obviously, I'm not as shy on the internet forum as in reality...

You know what's funny? I can totally see someone who's not introvert reading this and thinking "What the hell is this guy saying?", but I totally get what you're saying. In fact, it took me a whole day of thinking about it to be able 'to attempt passing my ideas in a clear way'

And now there are two options: 1) you are too shy to share your doubts and problems with anyone, which can lead to increasing them in your mind, destroying your self-esteem and thus a depression, or 2) you have just a handful of trustworthy friends whom you know for really long time and you feel you can tell them just about anything you can't cope with. This helps handling the pressure of reality, and may prevent the state of depression.

I agree 100%. In fact, I have faced both options at different times, though it didn't really get to depression. Having those few trust-worthy friends is a life saver if you're an introvert. I swear to god..being a complete introvert, I can easily say if I didn't have my close friends around like the whole time..I would have fallen into depression months. I don't know about you, but for me, making these close friends aware of your introvert personality helps.

And yes, I think that being an introvert can cause some obstacles in the future career. This is because most of the employers expect you to have well developed so called "soft skills", and often a part of the application is an arranged meeting where you're supposed to socialise with others. And obviously this socialising on demand would be much harder for an introvert person who is not used to being in a large, loud, and often drunk group of people.

I sort of agree with you here. However, some introverts can 'switch-off' the introversion for awhile if they had to participate in a social event or something. I am that kind of introvert, my studies require constant contact with other people (remaining in your own bubble will get you nowhere here). When I absolutely have to, I switch off the introversion for that specific amount of time, but when it's done..the extent of my exhaustion is unexplainable, I have to remain alone for a few days to get my energy back. That's one of the main problems with being an introvert.

As for correlation to depression... in my opinion introversion might be one of the aspcts leading to depression, but surely not the only one, and what's more, in some cases it can even prevent such states. But from the begining: as an introvert you are much more sensitive to what happens around you. Also, as you are not permanently bothered by what others say, you analyse all the facts in your mind consuming plenty of time for it, which, as Sandwich said, can lead to extensive self-critisism, and a state of self-consciousness.

Hence it can't be stated the introversion is bound to depression but neither can we say that these thing are completely separate.

I have never suffered from depression myself, but I have endured numerous situations which significantly affected my self-esteem, while many others would hardly have noticed that something happened, and I can understand some people can give up to this feeling

As for the whole depression-introversion issue, as an introvert would you say that there's a great possibility of you falling into depression in the future? If yes, can you think of a main cause or is it just a general possibility?

With me, I'd say there's a possibility, but not a big one. If I am going to become depressed it's going to be for one reason: Those mind consuming thoughts that I keep to myself all the time will wear me out so much that I can no longer take it nor talk about it because the thoughts got so complicated that no normal human being will understand what you're saying.

About the self-criticism and self-consciousness, I agree with both you and Sandwich, which may be yet another cause as to why eventually introverts will stop talking about any thought whatsoever. Which brings me to the whole talking about thoughts issue.

Since you're as much of an introvert as I am, I assume you don't talk about your thoughts to normal friends nor tell your close friends every thought. If I am right, why is that? I mean I just wonder if all introverts have the same reason or it varies from one person to another. Is it because of the self-esteem problems, or because you believe it's going to take too much mind effort to try and express your thoughts to people..or even impossible?

[Emmi]

According to this test I am an introvert (I answered true to 26 of them), but I've always considered myself an introvert, at least for the past seven or eight years or so. I don't think I really became an introvert until I was about 11. I've never been that kid who raises their hand for every single question in class or takes a super-active role in discussions. The sports and activities that I do are more solitary pursuits rather than team ones (although I would consider having to speak to the general public for my volunteer work definitely not solitary!) I've never had a large amount of friends, rather a small group of friends that I'm pretty close to. Plus, I'd rather have like seven or eight really good friends I can count on for anything as opposed to one hundred that might be dependable depending on the situation. I've never seen being introverted as a bad thing.

It's just when a person is introverted and has sub-par people skills that you can run into problems. It's normal to be a bit shy (I am when I'm in a new situation or with people I'm unfamiliar with) but when you are so introverted and cannot communicate with people because of it, it's not a good situation.

[Slovakov]

As for, depression, no I don't think I am prone to it. Of course I happen to have some periods of really bad moods (it is particularly when I know I've done something really stupid), but it's never longer than a day or a couple of days. I simply have too many passions that I devote my time to, to fall into apathy and depression. There is always something that drives me to action and makes me overcome my problems.

And yes, you're right, I apper to be quiet, and don't usually utter my thoughts. However the reason for this is much more simple in my case. I just think that it's not worthy bothering people with my thoughts which may be unimportant for them, or unimportant at all. I like the conversation to be constructive and therefore I find it useless to mention some of my silly, or rough thoughts that wouldn't commit to the discussion.

emyski, I agree with you, with the last sentence of your post in particular. I used to have some problems with communication and making friends because of my introversion. However since I started Uni, I seem to have changed a bit. Everything and everybody was so new, that I just got used to facing new people, new plaes and situations all the time. Now I feel much more confident about it all.

[cherry-tainted]

oh god, reading this definition felt like coming home to me. To know that

after few wonderful days, not having the energy to communicate with people

you really like is not abnormal.

I think the factors you named are related to introversion, at least for me.

I just want to add my personal experience to this discussion. So (rataplan):

I get sad really easiliy and then instead of simply overcoming my sadness,

I retreat into my head and simply listen to music, read or just simply think about

whatever it is that crosses my mind, and that is when I feel genuinely good:

Just being alone and thinking.

The problem, however, is that you get caught up in yourself too easily and too strongly.

During my teenage years I developed the habit of always distancing myself from others

and turning my head into a wonderful hideout, where everything that's wrong, gets right.

When I then realized in 10th grade that there are worlds between me and my world and the reality

I had a depression. I became anti-social, hated everyone I formely liked and retreated even more.

This whole period lasted a year.

So I think that introversion enhances depression and anti-socialism because we, unlike other

people have grown dear to the vastness of our human mind and how devouring it can be.

[Alex Obinali]

I don't know bout you guys but im an extreme introvert and i just like my own company, everything slows down when im alone, i feel like theres nobody to impress. I am content being on my own whereas when im with people i feel i am ignoring someone or someone thinks im boring because I've been silent for an hour or e.t.c. I also dont like to get swept away by things. i find it hard to dance infront of people or in parties, i dont like sexual parties (if you get what i mean) . Im not stressed or depressed at all though. When i get alone and organize my thoughts even something as stressful as the IB isnt stressfull because i know my options, what i can do and what I've missed and its as simple as that. All i do then is do what I've planned to do to get me out of the situation which is normally to work hard in something.

Edited March 6, 2012 by Mahuta ♥
: Please refrain from using text speak, Thanks- Maha