I've been an introvert my entire life for the most part. It's difficult for me to approach people I don't know. I don't do well in situations where everyone is vastly different from me. Many people have told me that they never know what I'm thinking because I always look so stone-faced on the outside (I've even had people say they're intimidated by me! LOL) which was always a surprise because I've always felt quite frightened and bewildered of the (human) world around me.

I'm at home in nature, around animals, and around other 'vulnerable' (marginalized) people. When I'm in my element, you'd never know I was an introvert. However, I do require large amounts of time alone, at home, away from it all. Sometimes I'm insecure about this; many of my friends know many people and thrive in social situations. In tandem with my introversion, I also have a worsening hearing condition that makes it next to impossible to converse with people, even when I'm wearing my hearing aids.

I don't blame you for feeling how you feel. We all have different life experiences. I absolutely the social 'norm' that we're all expected (in western society) to be outgoing, life-of-the-party, workaholic types who just never give up no matter what and always have smiles plastered to our faces and are able to jump into any situation anywhere ever and know exactly what to do. It's exhausting.