raz
Let's make this showy!
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
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- 2,523
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So. I'm wondering what other Introvert's experiences with this are. From what I've learned, the main problem with Introverts in social experiences is that because of their greater internal focus, large amounts of external stimulation cause the aforementioned "mind blank effect."
The mind blank effect can happen soon in a conversation, or later on once the introvert has reached their boiling point. Basically, it's the same as just running out of fuel, and you can't think straight until you can reduce external stimulation enough to the point that you can start regaining control over your thought process.
This is the main reason why introverts have common difficulties in social settings because the combined soaking in of what's going on around you including surroundings and the other people along with the actual conversation going on keeps them from maintaining a thought process that is as efficient as an extrovert. I'm asking this because I'm just realizing how much difficulty I really have in social settings, and I'm starting to think that it is often caused by being an introvert.
First off, I want to clear the misconception that introversion and shyness or being anti-social are synonymous, because they're not. The latter is a likely EFFECT of the former, but they don't automatically happen together. An extrovert is going to have their constant outward focus. They're going to crave interaction in order to regain energy, and in the process, provide themselves with immense opportunities to increase their people skills. This is IF they take advantage of it and become more socially effective. An introvert is going to have the inward focus on their own contemplation and emotional state, removing themselves from events and gatherings that overstimulate them or avoiding them all together, greatly reducing their chances of becoming more socially effective. Like I said, there is a difference.
Now, there's a reason I'm putting all of this out there. A great amount of times, I have an incredibly valid point to make. I might know a lot about something, and I'm itching to get it out, but there are many times where I hit the proverbial brick wall. I run out of fuel for social interactions and I hit that mind blank effect. I can't dig back into my memory to retrieve what I was going to say, and all the while I'm kicking myself because I'm being made out to look like someone who has no idea what they're saying.
I've subconsciously known about this problem my entire life. I spend more time preparing for conversations than improvising during them. I've been called out on it often because things I say seem to sound like "lines" rather than real speech. Anyway, after all this, how do other introverts here deal with this issue? I feel it's something I can't get rid of, but I can try to work around it. However, it cuts into my life a great amount, and it feels great to finally know why I am the way I am.
The mind blank effect can happen soon in a conversation, or later on once the introvert has reached their boiling point. Basically, it's the same as just running out of fuel, and you can't think straight until you can reduce external stimulation enough to the point that you can start regaining control over your thought process.
This is the main reason why introverts have common difficulties in social settings because the combined soaking in of what's going on around you including surroundings and the other people along with the actual conversation going on keeps them from maintaining a thought process that is as efficient as an extrovert. I'm asking this because I'm just realizing how much difficulty I really have in social settings, and I'm starting to think that it is often caused by being an introvert.
First off, I want to clear the misconception that introversion and shyness or being anti-social are synonymous, because they're not. The latter is a likely EFFECT of the former, but they don't automatically happen together. An extrovert is going to have their constant outward focus. They're going to crave interaction in order to regain energy, and in the process, provide themselves with immense opportunities to increase their people skills. This is IF they take advantage of it and become more socially effective. An introvert is going to have the inward focus on their own contemplation and emotional state, removing themselves from events and gatherings that overstimulate them or avoiding them all together, greatly reducing their chances of becoming more socially effective. Like I said, there is a difference.
Now, there's a reason I'm putting all of this out there. A great amount of times, I have an incredibly valid point to make. I might know a lot about something, and I'm itching to get it out, but there are many times where I hit the proverbial brick wall. I run out of fuel for social interactions and I hit that mind blank effect. I can't dig back into my memory to retrieve what I was going to say, and all the while I'm kicking myself because I'm being made out to look like someone who has no idea what they're saying.
I've subconsciously known about this problem my entire life. I spend more time preparing for conversations than improvising during them. I've been called out on it often because things I say seem to sound like "lines" rather than real speech. Anyway, after all this, how do other introverts here deal with this issue? I feel it's something I can't get rid of, but I can try to work around it. However, it cuts into my life a great amount, and it feels great to finally know why I am the way I am.