Overcharge

Like any good little introvert, I do enjoy time by myself. Alone time is peaceful and relaxing. I can enjoy listening to music, reading, contemplating, learning, reflecting on recent experiences and social encounters or simply zoning out. It is a chance to recharge.

What got me started on this train of thought was an article about Caring for Your Introvert that kottke.org referenced a couple of days ago. I could relate to many of the points, but there was one sentence that caught my attention:

"Extroverts are energized by people, and wilt or fade when alone."

That statement rang true to me for some reason. There is a high that I get when I'm around people, especially people I know. While there is a whole other element of shyness that crops up from being around strangers, I still find the scene stimulating.

It is the aftermath that troubles me. After the effects of the busy environment fade, I hit this major low. It is the transition from being around everybody to being around nobody almost instantly that seems so difficult to handle.

It is as though I suffer from a social withdrawal, crashing with a craving. The extrovert in me tries to cope with suddenly being neglected, realizing that it will have to relent to the introverted side that will once again dominate.

Maybe the reason I feel this way is because I have indulged my inner-introvert long and often. If small talk and being around people is a draining event, I am not doing that enough to be fully drained before I recharge.

If you saw me heading towards a battery analogy, I apologize. Perhaps it is like a rechargeable battery, if you charge it before it is completely used, there is a distinct chance of overcharging. Too much charge leads to early battery failure.

There is a point in all of this rambling, I hope.

Too much alone time, even for an introvert, can be unhealthy. I need to stop overcharging my batteries.