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Introverted link to stress and chronic illness ....probably

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Lyme Disease
Chronically ill, do you cionsider yourself more introverted or extroverted (you must know the difference though who you really are).
Introverted - 100.0% - 5 votes
Extroverted - 0.0% - 0 votes
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Posted 11/2/2021 11:35 AM (GMT -5)
Many young people (even older people) are not quite sure who they really are or how they fit into the world. To live life, its important to fully understand who you are............your physical health, not just mental kind of depends on it.

First off though, one must understand the difference between introversion and extroversion. Both can be outgoing (yep, true) or shy or quiet (not the same) , but what gives and uses up your mental energy is the difference and the outcome is how much alone time you need or dont need. ....and of course some people are a little of both. It comes down to how you think internally or externally. Is one better than the other? not really, but it does take some introverts to get up to speed to their full potential sometimes. And some extroverts do too much to soon, and pay the price later.

If you are pressured by the world to live a different personality type, the result is stress. Which is cortisol release, and not very good for your mental or physical health.

Why did I make this post? Because even those who understand this may easily forget it....from the demands of the world around you.

Various articles pop up when googling variations of this threads title.

just one : https://www.choosingtherapy.com/introvert-burnout/

"New age Drs" do talk about stress, cortisol and its place in your health. But few go down to your personality type as part of the foundation. (Obviously any past, if any, trauma can be part of this too.) You cant change your personality type, but understanding it and smoothing out "speed bumps" may actually healing help chronic illness.

In my "all body" healing approach, in addition to understanding what foods do what to me, Ive done my best to not go/live against my personality type, but I did this in the past since most of us are part of the "human machinery cog" in civilization.

The more one reads into this, the more clear it is.

Yes, an odd post, I know. But think about it.
Posted 11/2/2021 12:04 PM (GMT -5)
I very highly recommend Susan Cain's book Quiet for all introverts, or maybe everyone. I agree that this issue, especially living in a culture that pushes people to be different from how they're wired, is important for chronically ill people to consider.
Posted 11/3/2021 10:24 AM (GMT -5)
I think I experience the flip side of this. If I interpret your thoughts right, you’re thinking that introverted people try to live extroverted because of societal or job pressure.

I am absolutely an introvert and need a lot of alone time. However, I also long to be around people and have meaningful, enjoyable relationships. I don’t have any of that. I spend a lot of time in the public around strangers - stores, restaurants, public places. I think it’s my subconscious way of not feeling alone and isolated. Still, I long for good conversation, warm feelings, and people who actually want to know me and be a part of my life.

I have always considered myself socially retarded. Lifelong hearing and speech impediment surely played a part in that. Fear of rejection.

Also, there really aren’t many people like me. I discovered that about 18 years ago when I was in a class where we did a personality test. The instructor actually overlooked whatever combination I turned out to be. She asked if she had missed any. Realizing I was the only one, I didn’t raise my hand. about 10 minutes later, she said oh, yeah, there’s one more. She named it (it was mine). Then she said yeah, that one’s pretty rare. I wanted to crawl under the table.

I feel like I need more interaction with people than I get, especially one on one. I have never felt fulfilled in groups. I usually feel like I need to detox my mind, emotions, and spirit after hanging out with groups of people. Not always, but often, depending on the people and what I heard, observed, or felt.
Posted 11/3/2021 12:11 PM (GMT -5)

WalkingbyFaith said...
I think I experience the flip side of this. If I interpret your thoughts right, you’re thinking that introverted people try to live extroverted because of societal or job pressure.

I am absolutely an introvert and need a lot of alone time. However, I also long to be around people and have meaningful, enjoyable relationships.

I feel like I need more interaction with people than I get, especially one on one. I have never felt fulfilled in groups. .

Yes most companies unless your working alone, really push the "group this, group that" ideology as part of their "job culture" , so does society.. ..it would be 24/7 if they could.

Ive changed jobs a few times to get away from it. Much better without it....less people wanting me.... which also means less "difficult people" (insert your words here lol),.. = less stress and actually more work accomplished. Less burnout so then less recharge alone time needed.

What I copied of yours is pretty much the norm for an introvert. Usually preferring less people and with more "depth" of conversation vs large group "small talk" (parties are a great example of what they dont like). We've all met someone who can talk forever to anyone....about "nothing".....or the obvious.

**Its well noted that mental and physical stress leads to cortisol issues and lower immunity.

**In the past here I remember many saying Lyme struck them the hardest at a time of greater stress in their lives.

Post Edited (astroman) : 11/3/2021 12:47:15 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 11/3/2021 1:25 PM (GMT -5)

saraeli said...
I very highly recommend Susan Cain's book Quiet for all introverts, or maybe everyone. I agree that this issue, especially living in a culture that pushes people to be different from how they're wired, is important for chronically ill people to consider.

I second saraeli’s recommendation! It’s a great book! Now being the introvert that I am, I’m perplexed that it might be linked to chronic illness. I most contemplate this further. *pulls hood over head, crawls into hole, then hides under bedding*
Posted 11/3/2021 1:35 PM (GMT -5)
Interesting topic

I grew up being constantly teased by an older brother and sister.
I would cry and they’d just tease me more - imitate my crying…etc.

Mom never cared to deal with it - so it waited til dad got home and he used his belt to punish my brother and didn’t punish my sister.

I could hear the belt buckle as my dad walked down the hall to discipline my brother and cringe.

I had no confidence - I thought all the things my brother and sister said were true.

All through school I had trouble speaking out in class - very timid.
Didn’t want to draw attention to myself.

Grade 8 or 9 started the use of alcohol at parties to give me confidence.

I’d say I’m an introvert who wanted to be an extrovert .

Maturity has opened my eyes.
Posted 11/3/2021 1:37 PM (GMT -5)
WalkingbyFaith I did a (probably the same) personality test in college.
I had the rarest type as well.
So you are not alone in that 🙂
Posted 11/3/2021 1:58 PM (GMT -5)
introvert has negative connotations in our society -

almost like withdrawn, lacking confidence etc - but this is the colloquial meaning of the term.

personality type profiling methods - like Myers Briggs which is i think the one being referred to here has a different definition

this is from their website
"C. G. Jung applied the words extravert and introvert in a different manner than they are most often used in today's world. As they are popularly used, the term extraverted is understood to mean sociable or outgoing, while the term introverted is understood to mean shy or withdrawn. Jung, however, originally intended the words to have an entirely different meaning. He used the words to describe the preferred focus of one's energy on either the outer or the inner world. Extraverts orient their energy to the outer world, while Introverts orient their energy to the inner world. One of Jung's and Isabel Myers' great contributions to the field of psychology is their observations that Introversion and Extraversion are both healthy variations in personality style.


Adapted from Building People, Building Programs by Gordon Lawrence and Charles Martin (CAPT 2001)"

some of the most successful and powerful people i have known - CEO's of big companies etc - are strong Introverts by the Myers Briggs definition

also as we are in the age of mind work vs manual work - anyone who thinks slightly differently to the masses - or looks at the world from a slightly different perspective often has the potential to create tremendous value either individually or in teams.

anything that is rare often has value - so if you think you are an outlier - think of yourselves as gold or diamonds smile
Posted 11/3/2021 2:02 PM (GMT -5)
Garzie- Yep quiet is not the same as shy. I was a quiet kid (not shy), but I still had balls to say what I wanted (after I thought about it though) , which really confused some other kids.

As an adult, Im an outgoing introvert (one-/one or small groups), yes there is such a thing. Not that uncommon if you think about it....but without the energizer bunny batteries that an extrovert has.
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When Ive interviewed for jobs, its usually after hours. If they like me I always insist in touring the place when everyone is there to get a feel for the culture - if its introvert friendly or not. Plus are the employees happy or grumpy? - that a BIG one. Lots of chatting continuously, all out in the open /no private area > then for get it. Been there , done that, was very stressfull, its not for me.

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The good side of being introverted- the covid distancing and "big group lockdowns" really were not that big of deal. Not a stressor at all for me. There were some events I missed, but they will be on again.

On the *extreme opposite end*.. the local cross roads bar near me with regulars (same people / vehicles outside it every early evening in the summer) were prob majorly bummed when it was closed for months.

Post Edited (astroman) : 11/3/2021 1:10:28 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 11/3/2021 2:07 PM (GMT -5)

WalkingbyFaith said...
I think I experience the flip side of this. If I interpret your thoughts right, you’re thinking that introverted people try to live extroverted because of societal or job pressure.

I am absolutely an introvert and need a lot of alone time. However, I also long to be around people and have meaningful, enjoyable relationships. I don’t have any of that. I spend a lot of time in the public around strangers - stores, restaurants, public places. I think it’s my subconscious way of not feeling alone and isolated. Still, I long for good conversation, warm feelings, and people who actually want to know me and be a part of my life.

I have always considered myself socially retarded. Lifelong hearing and speech impediment surely played a part in that. Fear of rejection.

Also, there really aren’t many people like me. I discovered that about 18 years ago when I was in a class where we did a personality test. The instructor actually overlooked whatever combination I turned out to be. She asked if she had missed any. Realizing I was the only one, I didn’t raise my hand. about 10 minutes later, she said oh, yeah, there’s one more. She named it (it was mine). Then she said yeah, that one’s pretty rare. I wanted to crawl under the table.

I feel like I need more interaction with people than I get, especially one on one. I have never felt fulfilled in groups. I usually feel like I need to detox my mind, emotions, and spirit after hanging out with groups of people. Not always, but often, depending on the people and what I heard, observed, or felt.

There are 2 personality test systems I’m marginally familiar with. The Myers Briggs one, people said my type was pretty rare. Honestly I never thought I fit into it well or any of those types. Later when I met more people with my same Myers Briggs type they claimed I was a perfect fit for it and that our shared type commonly never felt it fit into its type. The other system I found out about much later was the enneagram which I felt I fit into much better. I generally describe my personality type as scared golden retriever.

Astroman, yeah my family is prettymuch all introverts, so lockdown was not a huge struggle for us like I’m sure it was for extroverts.
Posted 11/3/2021 2:17 PM (GMT -5)
I have always excelled when being left alone to do my thing. Couldn't stand working in an office environment where everyone is talking about this and that. To the point I could get nothing done. Eventually left that job. All the other jobs I had. I had my own office with a door or I worked at home. Got so much more done. I do like socializing and playing sports but even then I was much happier just hanging out with one person rather then a group of folks.
Posted 11/4/2021 8:25 AM (GMT -5)
I’m so glad we have each other!! 🤗HUGS🤗
Posted 11/4/2021 8:55 AM (GMT -5)
*peeks out from hole I crawled into*
*looks right then left*
*runs to give wbf a quick hug*
*run back into hole and hides under bedding again*
Posted 11/4/2021 9:54 AM (GMT -5)
🤗HUGS🤗 🙂🙂
Posted 11/4/2021 12:00 PM (GMT -5)

Bailey said...
*peeks out from hole I crawled into*
*looks right then left*
*runs to give wbf a quick hug*
*run back into hole and hides under bedding again*

As an outgoing and observant introvert...........I'll be the lookout Meerkat above your earthen tunnel colony.!
Posted 11/4/2021 3:00 PM (GMT -5)
Haha thanks astroman ☺️
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