How do you know if you’re an Introvert?
“OMG this is so me!!!”
“This sounds like me, am I an Introvert??”
“You hit the nail on the head! I’m a complete introvert. They don’t understand!”
“You got it sis! Tell em’! Say it again for the people in the back!”
“Woww I must be an introvert!”
“You get me sis! I found my tribe!”
These are just some of the few responses I got on my first ever viral video on TikTok about introverts. At this point in time, my video has had over 200,000 views and almost 3,000 shares!
I couldn’t believe it resonated with so many people, and it just made me so happy. It made me feel like I really am helping you! And I really hope that I am.
If you’re just not sure, here are some common traits to help you figure out if you’re an introvert.
Introverts Gain Energy Through Alone Time
Some of the most common energy drains for Introverts are people, long work days, big events, bright lights, gatherings (large or small), long conversations and noise.
Many Introverts say the larger an event, the more draining it is, which means the more alone time they need to recharge.
Alone time is an Introvert’s fuel. It’s the gas that keeps us running and pushes us back to our normal happy content selves.
Introverts Observe More Than We Interact
We’re quiet for a reason: we’re watching. We’re watching, waiting, observing.
We’re looking to see who we can trust with our secrets and who we can’t.
Who’s going to blab them to every person they know, and who’s going to keep them and hold them in their hearts forever, just like we would.
It Takes a While for Introverts to Warm Up to New People
It can take us Innie’s quite a while to warm up to the new people. It may be annoying to you, but it can be annoying for us too.
We’re thinking geez, why can’t I be more like her? She can chat it up with strangers at any given moment.
Or man, I wish I was more like him, he gives an amazing impromptu talk in front of any group of people with no hesitation. Must be nice!
Nope! Not us.
If we don’t know you, we’re not talking to you.
If we’re not sure we can trust you? Sorry, you’ve just got to wait it out!
It just takes us time to get to know you first. And when you’ve passed our screening, and you ask us about something that means something to us, you can’t shut us up!
We’re loyal friends, even if you don’t hear from us for a while.
We Take Breaks from People
I know this may sound bad, but… it’s true. Introverts absorb lots of things from people, not just the words they say.
Because many of us are Empaths, or HSPs (Highly Sensitive Person), we soak in everything about you. Your life, your situations, your happy times, your sad times, we feel deeply, we love deeply, we have deep compassion, and believe it or not, it’s draining.
I know, I know, Introverts can be a little complicated. We just really, really love and feel for the people that mean so much to us. So yes, we often need to recharge even from being with the people we love so much.
Introverts Aren’t Quiet Around “Our People,” Just the People that Don’t Really Know Us
You think we’re quiet? Tuh!
We open up to those we know and trust. If we don’t know you? How can we trust you?
We’ll chat and chat until we can’t chat anymore if we know and trust you!
We don’t usually have tons of friends, but we do usually have a small tribe of people that really get us. This small tribe knows we aren’t quiet at all.
Introverts Read Energy
This is where things can get a little tricky because if you’re a Christian (I am), I know we can get a little weird about “reading energy.” However, it’s just the best way to describe what it’s like being an Introvert.
It’s like, we can feel whether someone is genuine or not, and it’s important for us to be around people that are. We’re really into meaningful connections.
Introverts Hate Small Talk
Ask us about the weather, it’s like fingernails on the chalk board for us. Ask us about global warming? Now you’ve opened the floodgates to an Introverts heart.
We like a conversation that means something. We don’t like wasting our energy.
We like to spend it on things that really matter to us, and chit chat is like a parked car that’s left running for hours. It just feels like a waste! And it’s sooo annoying.
Obviously it’s a necessary evil, every relationship starts with small talk. But we’re so happy when we can move past that and get to the good stuff.
Being Quiet Conserves Our Energy
Have you ever had a moment where you noticed you physically just didn’t want to talk? You’re not sad or upset or anything. You’re fine, just maybe a little tired.
Sometimes we can be quiet just because we’re a little tired, and it helps to conserve the little bit of energy we have.
I’ll often anticipate a long day ahead, and I’m just a little more quiet than normal because I know I’ll need my energy to get through my day.
Concluding Thoughts on How to Know if You’re an Introvert
Being an introvert is not a cut and dry thing. We come in lots of shapes, sizes and variations.
Some people believe we’re taught to be this way, others believe introverts are formed through trauma.
The type of Introvert I focus on in my content is the Introvert that’s very likely been predisposed due to inherent genetic traits, because this is my personal experience. This has followed me throughout my life from the time I was a toddler. In fact, I used to be teased and called a mute in school.
If you’d like to hear more of my story, learn more about how you may’ve become an introvert, or just get some more in depth information, check out my eBook!
In the meantime, I hope this helped give you some insight on how to know if you’re an Introvert.
Don’t leave without your FREE copy of Affirmations for Quiet Introverts! I made it just for you. ♥
For more on introverts, check out these posts:
The Best Self-Care Tips & Ideas for Introvert Women
How to Deal With an Introvert Social Hangover
Introvert Resting B*tch Face or RBF
How to Know if You’re an Introvert
