Can Extroverts Have Anxiety The Same As Introverts?

Here's the Truth: Extroverts Can be Just as Susceptible to Anxiety as Introverts.- By Yocheved Golani

Most people have dominant traits, but the sometimes surprising thing is that they aren’t always predictable. People might like one sort of activity, but not in every way that it can be done. Personal characteristics tend to spread along a spectrum of realities. That’s true for people who like one sort of food, music, activity, type of person, etc. Some people like books, but only romances or mysteries, biographies and histories, not some other form of reading material. The same is true of introverts and extroverts: outgoing people do have occasions and times when they don’t want to interact with someone. Even extroverts can feel anxiety, discomfort, or a worrisome response regarding specific situations such as medical or scholastic exams, or even tension about encountering specific people.

Extroverts usually feel energized by social interaction. What some of us might not realize, though, is that extroverted behavior can be a cover-up for feelings of inadequacy. Some apparently outgoing people simply don’t want to be alone with themselves; they don’t like what they see in mirrors. They’re not necessarily looking for productive interactions. They seek out companionship in order to avoid looking within. If they dislike themselves, they can fake feeling happy while mingling with other people. They feel safe at having misled the people around them, and too often delay their personal growth with such fakery.

Some extroverts are not adept at staying focused on tasks or developing finer character traits, so they hide those failings by hanging out with people who are focused and/or of finer character. They might even cajole acquaintances into doing personal tasks that the alleged extrovert ought to manage on their own. It takes the rest of us a while to catch on to that type of manipulative behavior. It might be a person who simply craves attention. It could be someone who wants a sounding board for their ideas. The desires can be permanent or temporary, too. If a person is feeling down about the loss of a loved one, pet, or employment, or scared of headlines, they simply might need an emotional boost for the short term, not a lifetime.

Experts on specific subjects and popular media figures have been known to shy away from some social activities. People don’t like being mobbed with questions about their areas of expertise when they want to enjoy a party or a meal. They want to be treated as equal, not as someone special. Think of the doctors whom you know, and their reluctance to answer medical questions on social occasions. Prince Harry recently explained his departure from royal life as being due to incessant harassment from media hounds and paparazzi, the same sort of people who depressed his mom, Princess Diana. Actors and actresses are known for avoiding recognition in public by using sunglasses, wigs, or other disguises to protect the integrity of their personal space. The public needs to consider many factors when assessing an extrovert’s unexpected non- or anti-social stance in particular situations.

Sometimes a person who’s usually open and forthcoming has reason to remain quiet and reflective. Perhaps they need to assess and reassess development in their life, or a new desire. Maybe they’re not feeling physically well and need to lay low a bit. Maybe they’re figuring out how to deal with a fear or other difficulty.

All of us go through different periods of life when we need to respond differently than we might have in the past. Life has a way of changing over time, and so do personal needs. Understand changing needs with compassion and insight, and hold off on making judgment calls. You might not know all the relevant facts. And besides, it’s nice to be patient. That characteristic invites people to let down their guard, to trust you when they feel unsure about interacting with other people – even if the uncharacteristically quiet person is an extrovert.