To ask how if you're an introvert, and if so how do you recharge you're batteries?

[EmeraldThief]

I'm an introvert (obviously). I find lots of socialising and large groups of people really draining. I don't dislike socialising or people, but I have a limit and when I reach it I become grumpy, snappy and just want to run away and be on my own for a bit.

I find that we live in a world that's increasingly biased towards extroverts and introverts are considered odd/weird/anti social/strange. I love nothing more than going for a stroll on my own or going to a cafe and sitting and watching the world go by. Others find this really odd for some reason, I don't know why? "What, you went shopping on your own?" Yes, why the hell not?

How do you recharge you're batteries and how do you deal with the discrimination against introverts?

Yes your right - I'm medium
but I still love them films

I am pretty introverted.
I work alone most of the time (farmer) and to relax I love nothing more than walking the dogs, fishing or shooting which are best enjoyed alone in the countryside.
Even when DW is about, I try and have at least one daily walk alone - I just NEED it. If I don't get my hour or so of alone time every day it really upsets me and I struggle to function.

I am very introverted. I do enjoy socialising, but I also love time on my own. I was out last night, lots of food and chat and wine and cocktails. It was very brilliant. Then today, I really needed some alone time. DP was working, so I pottered around the house dancing and listening to music, went for a walk, did some crosswords, read, and watched television. It was glorious!

Often, when I need alone time, I walk my parents' dog, or go to the library and read for hours, or go to the graveyard and sit at my Granda's grave.

That's how I recharge. Lovely quiet alone time, just doing what I want to do.

Reading is my escape. I even took a book on a weekend away with a fabulous new bf once:) He was pleasantly surprised as he said he was worried at first I was an extrovert. He also had a book:)

I do loads of stuff on my own, i don't consider that as introverted behaviour (!) just quite normal for me. I like dinners and parties etc and chat like mad but I'm happy to be home again, and the next day I take it all very slowly.

I find it odd people can't go shopping or a trip to an art gallery or cinema alone, or get on a train without endless attention and chatting etc.

I find I can't do back to back social things. I plan my diary very carefully so that if I say went to London for a full day that I would have the next day at home and not dashing about too. My brain couldn't cope with all the over stimulation.

gonetrekking if you google Myers Briggs test you will find some free online personality tests that will tell you your personality type (one of 16).

cheminotte funnily enough I come up on the Myers Briggs test as an extrovert but I am definitely not so not sure how I am answering the questions

cheminotte thank you!

I came out or up as an ISFP so off to read all about it, how fascinating!

I don't bother about the negative views of introverts, it's what I am and people can take me as they find me. If they don't like me then it's their loss.
I do a lot of art, that's my chill out time. That and long walks.

How do you cope with DC ? I need people free time but I can't walk away from my DC. I would love not to have to do birthday parties....

You don't 'have' to do birthday parties. Not every child has them. I hate them personally as well, but have always done small, old-fashioned, I.e. 5 or 6 guests at our house rather than whole class horrors.
If you have a partner, agree some 'time-off' for you. If not, use the TV so you can get a break, but use at least some of the time for reading rather than catching up on chores.

Also for birthdays, you can offer a birthday treat (family day out) rather than a party.

I am an introvert. I am also a single working parent. I get no time to recharge, ever. I am utterly utterly drained

Im glad Im not the only one.
I have just come back from a 3 week training residential course with my work colleagues. I was with them 24 hours a day, because we also had shared accommodation.
I couldnt read a book in peace without being interrupted, with the usual "what are you reading?" shit, and on the fifth night, everyone was going off to the pub so I said Id join them after Id had a bath (to give myself a bit of recharge time on my own) but nooo, another "do-gooder" colleague had to spoil it by insisting she waited for me so we could walk together. Aaargh!!

They are nice people but oh my god, I felt like I couldnt breath.

Great thread! I've always been introverted and also getting more and more intolerant as I get older. I used to socialise a fair bit but now am very choosy about who I spend my time with. Luckily I'm in a job where I'm on my own a lot but sometimes, like today, I'm with colleagues all day, a lot of them very loud and always outdoing each other with "hilarious" banter. I found it so draining. I can't tell if that's because I'm introverted, intolerant or because they're just twats. Thank God I'm on my own again tomorrow.

bigbuttons that must be incredibly, incredibly hard all the things that make me feel better!

Does anyone else also find FaceTime really really intrusive? I cringe when it goes because DH, a full-blown extrovert, answers it immediately. No matter what. When we're having a lie in on a Sunday morning, when we're watching TV in our jammies, when we're in the middle of bath & bedtime madness, anytime, he just answers it. And his family will shout: 'Hiya Suddenly!! How are you?!' so I am forced to join in on a conversation where people can see me when all I was wanting to do was sit on the sofa in my little bubble in my jammies! Sometimes I ask him to angle it so I can't be seen, but then I feel like I'm eavesdropping. But if I leave the room to escape I get accused of being 'anti-social'

Someone unthread said they've had to negotiate complex taxi rides to avoid sharing a train with colleagues. I've been known to do that too.

My idea of hell is a team night out complete with boozy loud meal, being stuck next to my least favourite people, feeling as though I have nothing to say (I always feel inadequate at these events) followed by a coach with everyone back to a hotel if it's an overnight stay. AWFUL.

Thanks for the congrats everyone!

Missmartin I hope you can lay your hands on some tests soon!

Oops, wrong thread, sorry!

On this thread: I'm also a massive introvert, love nothing more than pottering in my own, and really the time I like socialising best is with extended family. It's just easier and I can really relax.

No shame in it I say. Potter away!

Can MNHQ delete my wrong post? Don't need to be broadcasting TTC news all over MN!

Am currently. mumsnetting in the dark after a full on people day
I really struggle when well meaning people insist on accompanying me to something "because they couldn't let me go alone" it's like they think I am being some kind of martyr when I try to suggest that I am happy by myself.

I love watching people. sitting in a pavement cafe, watching the world go by is one of my favourite pastimes. Just as long as I don't have to actually interact with any of them.

I once made up a fictional appointment so that I had to get a later plane to San Francisco just so I didn't have to sit next to a colleague on the 8hr flight. I just couldn't cope with 8 hours small talk....

I'm due to fly out to Eastern Europe with 3 colleagues next month. The first thing I am going to do at check in is ask to change my seat. If anyone notices, I'll just say I get airsick and need an aisle seat or something.