To BeaFlower:

From what I understand from reading online recently, "introvert" and "extrovert" are often very misunderstood words. "Extrovert" simply refers to a person who feels emotionally "recharged" and happy from being around people, even if that person acts shy and quiet. An introvert, on the other hand, could seem really outgoing, could even be a loud "life of the party" person but they feel drained from this (they might enjoy it but just in short bursts) and when it's over they're happy to be alone to "recharge."

So that's why I think I might be an extrovert after all. I'm very shy and quiet in social situations, but if the people I'm around are friendly, supportive, funny, encouraging, not negative or cynical, then I feel really happy and recharged and don't really want to be alone again.

To ham123:

When you go out and act like the life of the party, act outgoing and stuff, etc., do you feel happy afterwards, and emotionally recharged? Or do you feel emotionally drained or stressed?

As I said in my reply to BeaFlower above, I think that's the real definition of either an introvert or extrovert. It actually has less to do with how a person acts and everything to do with how they feel.

Anxiety is a whole different thing of course, and I believe it can affect introverts and extroverts.

To answer your question, I don't think there's a single defining reason for my anxiety. A big part of it was school, which I always hated; being forced to go to school as a kid stressed me out from kindergarten to senior year and I just never adapted to it. I never had any sense of control over my life, so I came to associate socializing with a lack of control, I think. So from there tons of little things built up, especially in my later school years when I had such negative people in my life.

I hope you're able to work through the issues that led to your anxiety. I know how difficult it is, I'm still in that process myself.

Thanks for your replies!