If you had to put people into groups based on the ways they fuel their energy, you could distinguish two broad categories of extroverted and introverted people. Extroverted people feel best and most energized when they are interacting with others, while introverts recharge by being on their own and social interactions drain them to exhaustion.
Introversion is a personality trait and not a mental health condition, but it is often confused with social anxiety disorder. Introverts aren’t necessarily anxious in a busy social environment, but it just takes a lot of energy to be engaged, while for people suffering from social anxiety, such an environment causes nervousness and fear, although some research suggests that introverts are more likely to feel social anxiety compared to extraverts.
It seems that this could be the case as evident from a thread started by Reddit user Sarayka81 who asked, “What situation is an introvert’s nightmare?” Many people noticed that redditors started listing situations that are more dreadful for people with social anxiety instead of introvertedness and concluded that they might not be able to make a distinction between them if they have both, although a big chunk of them related to the scenarios mentioned.
More info: Reddit
#1 Phone Calls
Phone calls. Receiving and twice as bad having to make one.
#2 Finding A Partner In Class
Teacher: “Everyone find a partner!”
Image source: tidita7889, lori05871
#3 Introducing Yourself
Let’s all introduce ourselves
Image source: meiliraijow, kifo
#4 When A Friend Leaves You At A Party
Your social butterfly friend begs you to go to a party with him. You go there and he wanders off to talk to literally everyone there while you follow him like a puppy.
Image source: Nomadic_View, gabia party
#5 Being Called Out For Staying Quiet
“Why are you being so quiet?”
Image source: vagitablepi, Anathea Utley
#6 Guests Showing Up Unannounced
People randomly showing up to hang out at your own place
Image source: Girly_Sylvia, joel
#7 Being Picked Out Of The Crowd
Being picked out of the crowd at an assembly, concert, magic show etc.
Image source: fedwood, liz west
#8 When You Plan To Meet One Person But They Bring Someone Else Too
“Wanna hang out this Saturday?”
“Sure!”
*Saturday arrives, 10 minutes before hangout time*
“Oh also I invited my friend you have never met before to join us”
“…”
Image source: drflanigan, Nicolás Boullosa
#9 When Parents Have Guests
As a child my worst nightmare was when my parents got visitors and I’m stuck upstairs hungry and thirsty because I can’t access the kitchen.
Image source: mikasott, Elaine
#10 Being Asked To Show More Enthusiasm
“That’s not loud enough, I said ‘GOOD MORNING TEAM!’”
Image source: mysecretissafe, Infrogmation of New Orleans
#11 When A Person Can’t Take A Hint To Leave You Alone
When the person you’ve been forced into meaningless small-talk with just straight-up does not read your subtle cues that you prefer to be left the f**k alone.
Image source: modern_aftermath, Chris Lott
#12 Comments About You Finally Socializing
Comments like “Look who finally came out of their room” or “Oh wow you can talk!” When I finally step a bit out of my comfort zone.
Image source: True_85, lisaclarke
#13 People Invading Personal Space
People barging into my personal space uninvited
#14 Having To Speak Publicly Without Preparing In Advance
Being forced into public speaking last moment.
Image source: Ultrabigbutt, Matt Harasymczuk
#15 Crowds
Crowds
Image source: ransom0374, Cameron Norman
#16 School Presentations
School presentations.
Image source: GabThePretto, Virginia State Parks
#17 Servers Singing “Happy Birthday” In Front Of Everyone
Waiter/waitress bringing cake and singing happy birthday in front of the whole restaurant
Image source: watermelown-1999, Ralph Daily
#18 Party Where Everyone Talks For Hours
A party where all people do is stand around and talk. For hours. I just want to be in bed with a book thanks
Image source: Radioactivocalypse, Luis Guerrero
#19 Living In A Shared Room
My college has put me in a shared room with a stranger who doesn’t speak English. There is no where for me to go and re-charge my social battery. I am losing my mind- don’t get me wrong, I like my roommate. She seems real sweet but by god I need a minute to myself.
Image source: dum_biatch, Jonathan Chen
#20 Being Stuck On A Train With A Colleague You Recognize But Don’t Know Well Enough
Here’s mine: meeting a coworker that you don’t know very well on the train, locking eyes and having to engage in conversation for the next 30-40 minutes.
All you want to do is read your book, but there’s no way out and you decide to put up a brave front.
They’re not thrilled to see you because you already have a reputation for being kind of weird. The more you talk the weirder they think you are. You can see it in their eyes. Already you can hear the office gossip in your head: “Oh my God, guess who I was stuck on the train with…”
Nightmare fuel. Work from home was a blessing in this regard.
Image source: jew_biscuits, Tom Page
#21 Finding A Job
Finding a job
Image source: Potential_Departure6, KOMUnews
#22 Small Talk
Small talk. If I’m gonna give you my attention and take myself out of my inner world you’d better have something stimulating to talk about.
Image source: anewstartforu, ePi.Longo
#23 Networking Events
Networking events
Image source: normal-girl, Fruitnet.com
#24 Leaving The House
My wife: “Hey, do you wanna leave the house today?”
Image source: Bobisburnsred, Poppy Thomas Hill
#25 Ice Breakers
ice breakers
Image source: Ready_Difficulty_622, Rod Library
#26 Unwanted Marriage Proposal
Public marriage proposal which they want to turn down.
Image source: disco_di_piscio, Waterford_Man
#27 Afterparties
Afterparties.
You mean there’s more stuff to do after the stuff we planned on doing? I only have so much energy to deal with people and it was already used up.
Image source: Nyctomancer, Joe Mabel
#28 Surprise Party For You
A total surprise party for me at my place with everyone and their significant other so I’m essentially the 49th wheel at my own party. Kill me now.
Edit: I exaggerated the number but I have been a 9th wheel at a couples party (I did NOT know it was going to be all couples) but glad to know this is so relatable 🥲
Image source: Anneboleyn33, Bart Everson
#29 A Large Wedding With You In The Center Of Attention
A large wedding. Being the center of attention for an entire day sounds f*****g terrible. Especially with a lot of family members I don’t particularly care for, or haven’t seen in years and having to pretend like I’m happy to see them and “oh my gosh it’s been soooo looong”.
Nooooo thank you.
Image source: Sun-Public, demxx
#30 Not Being Given Notice About Group Activities
Being asked to do some group activity on such short notice and being put on the spot without having a legitimate reason for not wanting to do it aside from “I just don’t feel like it”
Image source: Jopast22, Benedikt S. Vogler
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