If you’re an Introvert there’s a big chance you’ve experienced an Introvert Social Hangover at one time or another (or if you’re like me, quite frequently).
You’ve just gotten into your car after a long day of work, a festival packed full of people, or a big family gathering.
You shut the door and what’s the first thing you do? You take in a little air, and… there it is, a huge sigh.
You’ve been people-ing for way too long, and you’re feeling it: an Introvert Social Hangover.
What is an Introvert Social Hangover?
The term “Social Hangover” has been coined likely because of the similarities with the typical hangover you experience the morning after you’ve had a few too many glasses of Moscato (my fave! okay don’t judge me I’m a lightweight).
A pounding headache, dry mouth, fatigue, sensitivity to light and the like.
The difference though is that with an Introvert Social Hangover you just feel utterly drained, depleted of energy and just unwell.
How do you know you’re experiencing a Social Hangover?
Here are a few ways to know if you’re experiencing a Social Hangover:
- You’re cranky and irritable
- You feel fatigued
- You don’t want to talk anymore
- You strongly desire to be alone
- You feel like your head will explode at any moment due to overwhelm
- You crave peace and quiet
Why do we experience Social Hangovers?
Simply put it’s because you’re an Introvert!
Introverts are gifted in four ways. We’re able to:
- connect deeply with people
- listen intently
- we’re very passionate
- we’re very attentive
We do these four things at a very intense level, therefore we get drained more quickly than extroverts. This is why many Introverts do well with one-one friendships, or small groups of friends.
Extroverts are able to spread themselves a lot more socially. They receive energy from crowds of people. Introverts are drained from crowds of people.
Because our personalities are a lot more focused and intense, we reach a point in social interaction where it just gets overwhelming.
It’s just like putting gas in a gas tank, it can only take so much. If you keep trying to put more gas in, it will overflow. For Introverts, the overflow looks like shut down.
For me, shut down means I get quiet. I begin to limit my words and stop talking as much. I’ll speak if I’m spoken to, but generally I will stop initiating conversation because I just can’t anymore.
Does this sound like something that happens to you too?
So how do I get over an Introvert Social Hangover?
Know Yourself
Firstly it’s so important to know yourself.
“To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.”
~ Socrates
Do you know what it means to be an Introvert? Why you’re an Introvert? How you got to be an Introvert?
These are important things to understand. Read my Introvert Guide to gain a better understanding of who you are.
The better you know and understand yourself, the easier it will be to navigate scenarios where you encounter situations that lead to a Social Hangover.
Have a Plan
Over time you’ll learn how to navigate situations the best way you can, and you’ll develop a mental plan as to what you’ll do to cope.
Prior preparation prevents poor performance
~James Baker
For example, say you have an event to attend, maybe a business mixer. Is this an event you can bring a friend to? Having a friend there with you can help make it a little easier to get through.
If you have to go it alone, try to decide ahead of time what you’ll do in certain scenarios.
For example have a time frame in mind for how long you’ll stay. This way you’ll know how much time you need to exert yourself socially and you’ll already know when freedom awaits!
It can make it easier to get through your time there knowing exactly when you won’t have to exert any more social energy.
You can also reward yourself if this is a pretty difficult social situation you have to attend. Whatever your favorite indulgence is, have at it the moment you leave the event. Maybe it’s a piece of Godiva chocolate, or a quick trip to Target for a cute new mug.
Knowing you have a reward set up afterwards can make it a little easier to get through.
Up Your Self Care Game
Be gentle with yourself
Knowing and understanding yourself as an Introvert will help you to be more gentle with yourself when you encounter challenging social situations.
Don’t go back and reflect with regret over not speaking more to this person or that person. Generally there’s a reason that happens, and it’s usually because we innie’s have a way of sniffing out when there’s a good connection there and when there’s not.
It’s okay! Don’t be hard on yourself.
Know there’s a reason and keep pushing forward. Don’t get hung up on regrets or feeling bad for not talking more. This is a part of who you are, and what makes you unique and special.
Unplug and recharge
In order to charge a battery, you need to plug it into an electricity source.
For Introverts, our electricity source is alone time.
We need daily quiet time to help us re-up our energy storage tank.
You can take a moment to have a cup of tea and read a book. Or binge watch a show on Netflix. Take pen to paper and write your thoughts in a journal.
Whatever you like to do, do something to unwind and be alone for a while. This is how we recharge! Check out my article 40 Creative Outlets and Hobbies for Introverts if you need some hobby ideas!
Are you getting enough self care?
How do you know if you’ve had enough self care after an Introvert Social Hangover? An easy way to know is by keeping track of your daily self care!
I made a Daily Self Care checklist just for you.
I’ve learned that if I’m doing the things on my checklist on a daily basis, I can keep my Introvert storage tank full, which helps my recovery time after lots of social interaction. Just sign up below and get yours now!
I hope this helps you, let me know in the comments what things you do to get over an Introvert Social Hangover!
