5 things only introverts find exhausting, according to psychology

Introverts tire easily from overstimulation – be it constant social interactions, crowded spaces, or noise.

While they may not necessarily dislike socializing, most of them will get tired out more easily than their extroverted counterparts. 

Place an introvert in a crowded space and eventually you’ll find them really drained – physically and mentally – because of the energy that is demanded from them.

Does this sound familiar? If so, you may be a more introverted individual.

So without further ado, here are 5 things that only introverts find exhausting, according to psychology.  

1) Constant socialising 

One of the biggest energy-draining activities for introverts is socializing. 

According to psychology, being around people for a prolonged amount of time can be a source of stress for introverts, as the constant conversation tires them out.

As an introvert, I can attest to this. The thing is, I’m not averse to talking to people. In fact, I quite like meeting new people and getting to know them better.

But my social battery wears off faster than most – after a while, I’ll start to feel fatigued and my ability to process things will start to slow. 

This is because conversations wear me out.

After some time, I’ll start wishing I was at home spending time with just myself, instead of having to think of how to get the conversation going between groups of people.

2) Crowded spaces

Another thing that drains introverts is crowded spaces.

The idea of having to contend with people pressing in around them and crossing their personal space, the ensuing noise from conversations as people talk over one another and the hustle and bustle of the atmosphere can get overwhelming.

This is why introverts tend to withdraw from crowded spaces. Psychology states that this can cause overstimulation – when everything gets too much for the average introvert to handle. 

If they’re in a confined space, they may choose to exit the room or huddle in a corner to recuperate the best they can.

What they need most, is peace and quiet, to enable them to recharge their social batteries so that they can hang out with friends again.

I never understood why I tend to get lightheaded sometimes when I’m at a crowded shopping mall. I always attributed it to not being sufficiently hydrated, but even after drinking a ton of water, I still feel exhausted after being out for a period of time.

That’s when I realized this was likely due to overstimulation. The lights, abrasive music, and chatter of the crowd would subconsciously drain my energy to the point where I’ll have to excuse myself.

Once, I went to the arcade and got so overstimulated that I had to sit outside for half an hour just to catch my breath – that’s how much of an introvert I am.

3) Public speaking

While public speaking is something one can learn or pick up along the way, it takes a lot more from introverts because addressing a crowd is not something that comes naturally.

If speaking to people tires them out, imagine them having to present to a crowd.

The attention, noise and just being in a room full of people can get quite overwhelming.

However, there are introverts who are fantastic public speakers and this is because they practice and practice – probably even harder than extroverts.

Being in the limelight is something not every introvert will like because it puts them at the center of attention. They’d rather remain in the background, supporting a more extroverted individual.

As an introvert, I acknowledge the importance of public speaking, so while I’d rather not do it, it’s a good skill to have, especially in a corporate setting.

But it does get tiring.  

4) Small talk

If there’s one thing that exhausts introverts the most, it’s small talk. And boy, do they hate small talk.

To them, it’s a waste of time, because no one is going anywhere with conversations about the weather or what they did over the summer.

Whether it’s an obligatory step before or after meetings, or even when they’re just talking to a coworker at the pantry just because it’s polite to do so, these interactions tire introverts out.

For introverts, small talk can feel shallow and superficial. They’d rather delve into deeper conversations about topics that are more significant to them.

They enjoy getting to know people better by asking questions that go beyond the surface.

While the conversation may eventually tire them out because of who they are, they’ll at least enjoy the process because they’re able to connect with others at a deeper level, rather than waste time trying to think of trivial topics to chat about.

5) Unexpected social invitations

While some enjoy spontaneous gatherings with friends, most introverts would rather be given a heads up a week prior so they can mentally prepare to socialize and ensure they have enough in their social battery to hang out.

As an introvert, I get that unexpected social invites can be exciting, but it’s something I usually decline.

Picture this – I’ve had a long day and would love more than anything to wind down at home alone in front of the TV or curled up with a good book. The last thing I want to hear from anyone is… anything.

Really, just leave me alone.

The idea of having to muster up the energy to socialize especially if it wasn’t scheduled in my calendar can get very overwhelming.

I mean, introverts love it when plans or appointments get cancelled unexpectedly so… this shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Concluding thoughts

Essentially, overstimulation is the bane of an introvert’s existence.

It’s not that we don’t want to talk to anyone, it’s that sometimes prolonged interaction tires us out – even if we want to continue the conversation.

Introverts are just built that way and it does get tiring having to navigate a world built for people who are more extroverted. 

Hopefully, this gives you some understanding as to why your introverted friends behave the way they do, and if you’re an introvert, don’t feel bad about being yourself.