What Happens When An Introvert Oversocializes?

The most common question most introverts probably receive is: “Why don’t you like to socialize?” or some variation of that thought. This leads to further thinking or assumption that introverts don’t like being around other people. Well, for those asking, introverts do like people and they do like to socialize—quite a bit when they feel like it actually.

Introverts could do just fine at a party or at a family get together or on a date, it just depends on whether they are balancing that social time with time on their own. When an introvert oversocializes, it means that they spent a long time interacting with others and they feel overstimulated. When you feel overstimulated, your brain is reacting to higher levels of dopamine caused by things or people around that affect us in some way.

It could be the general noises made by a city, like a train flashing past or the siren of an ambulance in the distance. The more sounds and interactions and thoughts introverts have, the more burdened and weary they become. That’s why they need to disconnect. By separating themselves every now and then, introverts can retreat into a calmer state and ease their overstimulated mind.

Imagine it similar to winding down after a long day at work with a glass of wine.Even an extrovert would feel worn out and even sick after a certain amount of time without resting physically or mentally. For introverts, they can’t really decompress without ideally having some space, quiet, and minimal stimulation. Below you’ll find some of the most common consequences that introverts face when oversocializing.

They Get Stressed Out

All the typical symptoms you can expect when you’re stressed immediately appear when introverts are feeling oversocialized. You lose focus and feel distracted and just feel out of it, you might even feel a headache coming on. It’s not a pleasant feeling and staying stressed has long-term consequences to a person’s general health.

Introverts get stressed because they’re hypersensitive in a way. They are aware of the hundreds upon thousands of small or large actions and reactions occurring all around them at one time. If it sounds overwhelming, think about actually living it. Taking small mental breaks is essential for introverts to be able to manage “the noise” they experience around them. If they have the chance to slow down and clear their minds, they’ll be able to solider on for the remainder of their day without getting too stressed.

Related: Do Introverts Ever Get Lonely Being Alone?

They Feel Tired + Lose Energy

Introverts feeling in tip-top shape have two separate bars related to their energy level. One is the normal physical energy bar that decreases as they expend energy by walking or running around. The other is dedicated to how much stimulation they’ve experienced and can handle in a certain period of time. This differs from introvert to introvert, but they all have a limit to how long they can interact with their environment before they essentially power down like a phone out of battery.

This can be especially tough in the middle of a work or school day, as they can’t just “call it” and head home to crawl into a closet and recharge there, hidden away from the world. Even if they wanted to more than anything else. Most introverts have to cope with their second energy bar by staying aware of their stress levels and recognizing how fatigued they are mentally.

They Shut Everyone Out

If an introvert feels overwhelmed enough by a social situation they’ll sort’ve disconnect from their environment until they can regain some sense of balance and get the hell out of there. This might make the people around them wonder if something is up. When it seems like everyone is having a good time but an introvert seems like they’re on a verge of a breakdown, that means they didn’t pay attention to their stimulation or energy level. They’re most likely mentally drained and overstimulated and need some time to calm down and regain a bit of focus.

Oversocializing can lead to the introvert feeling like they aren’t really there anymore. The people and everything else becomes this blurry mush and sounds are distorted. Someone asking them something may snap them out of it, but they could slip back into a kind of trance. That’s why it might look like the person who identifies as an introvert is worried, feeling sick, sad, etc. They are likely feeling some strain mentally or feeling anxious because of overstimulation. Which can be quickly remedied by giving their minds a break and allowing them to recharge a certain second energy bar.




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Hana Othman

Hana Othman is the founder of SimpleHermit.com and identifies as an INFJ. Most days you can find her typing away or reading a book. Beyond that, she keeps busy as a dog and cat mom.