In a word: No.
Shyness involves fear of negative evaluation (and is a milder form of social anxiety), whereas introversion refers to a tendency toward becoming over-stimulated and the need to be alone to gain energy.
There are many introverts who aren’t shy in the least bit, that is they don’t feel anxious in social situations. They can easily engage with other people, even if they are just meeting them. They have no problems conversing with people and perhaps have no anxieties around public speaking. However, at some point, they will likely start to feel drained and want to steal away to recharge their batteries.
So they might think, “I’m really enjoying talking one-on-one to some of the people here, although I feel quite overwhelmed by the crowd and the noise.”
A shy introvert would think “I’m too scared to talk to anyone here and I feel exhausted already. When can I leave?”
If you are shy, it’s worth trying to address that, because experiencing anxiety when around other people is incredibly draining and limiting.
You could try:
- Taming your inner critic: Many shy people are incredibly critical of themselves, which makes them more anxious.
- Know and celebrate all your strengths
- Choose to be around people who value you: This helps boost your confidence.
- Stay away from bullies and teases: You know those ones who are only too happy to make sarcastic jokes at your expense? Stay away from them as much as you can.
- Face your fears: If you are scared to death of public speaking, then try it in tiny doses and keep doing it until you feel less scared. If you are terrified of meeting new people, make a goal of meeting one new person a week (this could online or in-person) until it no longer terrifies you.
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