First off, there doesn't HAVE to be a difference, and there can certainly be overlap. These are just words that try to capture ideas, but the ideas can be related or the same.
With that said, I try to separate the two by thinking of introverts as people who are comfortable with solitude, while shy people as being uncomfortable and resisting solitude, but forced to be there for whatever reason. Because introverts don't resist, they don't have to engage in any defense mechanism. Shy people resist their situation and feelings, and therefore start using all sorts of defense mechanisms like denial, rationalization, and suppressing their true self in favor of a false self that is more socially fluid (at least with shy extroverts).
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My other signature is something witty.
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