Contrary to what most people think, an introvert is not simply a person who is shy. In fact, being shy has little to do with being an introvert! Shyness has an element of apprehension, nervousness and anxiety, and while an introvert may also be shy, introversion itself is not shyness. Basically, an introvert is a person who is energized by being alone and whose energy is drained by being around other people.
Introverts are more concerned with the inner world of the mind. They enjoy thinking, exploring their thoughts and feelings. They often avoid social situations because being around people drains their energy. This is true even if they have good social skills. After being with people for any length of time, such as at a party, they need time alone to "recharge."
When introverts want to be alone, it is not, by itself, a sign of depression. It means that they either need to regain their energy from being around people or that they simply want the time to be with their own thoughts. Being with people, even people they like and are comfortable with, can prevent them from their desire to be quietly introspective.
Introverts make up about 60% of the gifted population but only about 25-40% of the general population. Maybe it is the same here in Kenya.
It is not easy for introverts to make new friends because getting to know someone takes so much energy. However, introverts don’t need a wide circle of friends. They prefer one or two close friends, even though they may know many people and have a large number of acquaintances. That is why you will find some people very active in social media, because they prefer having friends online to hanging out.
Introverts need a lot of personal space. They enjoy activities they can do alone or with just a few others. They prefer to read. They have a lot of time to themselves, therefore they do a lot of research, sometimes without noticing. This makes introverts the kind of people you expect to know almost everything. They are also very creative. You will find them having their own collection of stories, poems, music, paintings and so on. Introverted people will mostly watch an activity before joining. They dislike being the centre of attention. You will not find them bragging of their achievement.
Introverts tend to be very good in listening skills. They will let you talk and finish before airing their views. Likewise, they do not like being interrupted when talking. They think before they talk, that is why they tend to be slow in responding. Introverts rarely argue, they simply listen and make silent judgments. This is because naturally introverts fear being intimidated. Although introverts are quiet, they will talk incessantly if they’re interested in the topic.
Introverts become emotionally drained after spending time with others, particularly strangers. They don’t like crowded places and introverted children can even become grouchy and irritable if they’ve been around too many people for too long. Even when introverts enjoyed a party or activity, they can feel drained afterwards. Introverts also have a hard time sharing their feelings and feel deeply embarrassed by public mistakes.
Therefore, if you have a friend, a neighbor or even a friend with the above traits, just understand that it is their nature. And the best thing you can give them is space.
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