From Extrovert To Introvert

joymc2 · Mar 24, 2015, 03:18 PM

I'm not sure if this is a bipolar thing but I use to be a bit of a social butterfly. I had a great desire to constantly plan get-togethers, try to make lots of friends and loved to be the life of the party. Of course my erractic behavior didn't keep people around for long but it didn't stop me from trying. Well in the last few years I've pretty much cut ties with most friends & even some family members & I started to live a life of seclusion. I avoid leaving the house unless I have to & I don't have any desire to make any friends. Just the whole thought of socializing now gives me anxiety. Can anyone relate?

Crazy Hitch · Mar 24, 2015, 05:22 PM

For me, personally, I tend so socially isolate when I am depressed.

I really don't enjoy being around others when I'm like that.

I'd prefer sleeping.

boydisappearing · Mar 24, 2015, 06:59 PM

I fluctuate wildly depending on whether I'm manic or depressed. When I'm depressed I don't want to see anyone, I isolate, I don't shower or leave my house. When I'm manic, I want to be around people all the time, I talk fast, laugh loud.

Baseline, I enjoy being around people but I hate parties. I prefer smaller gatherings or coffee and a good talk with a friend.

Mar 24, 2015, 07:11 PM

I've often wondered why some people have this effect because when I'm up everyone's awesome, but when I'm down everyone sucks. I think that some people start having a problem that they have a mental illness and that the stigma of it is soul crushing, kinda of a personal embarrassment, that they just disappear. Like a pride thing. Not saying that what you are going through of which I have no idea, but just remarking. I hope things get better for you hun.

MyUsername1111111 · Mar 24, 2015, 08:10 PM

I switch on a dime. Was introverted until high school; parents had to set up play dates.

In high school i was king, and worked the social game as well as i could. I learned how to play the game, and played it well.

Now that i'm older i don't desire to pull the social games and achievements i have in the past, i have proved to myself i can be a social and engaging person.

But yeah, one day ill chew your ear off and the next i will be totally unresponsive.

Mar 25, 2015, 12:41 AM

I can relate. I've withdrawn a lot over the past decade...and it's only now I'm realizing that it's because of bipolar (recently diagnosed with bipolar II). I used to be a social butterfly too...and still can be when not depressed. But, I spend a lot of time depressed so it's tough.

RisuNeko · Mar 25, 2015, 01:00 AM

Same here, not social at all when I'm depressed, just totally isolate. But when I'm hypo or manic I'm super social. When I'm normal I prefer small gatherings of close friends. Haven't been normal in a really long time though. At least two and a half years.

BipolaRNurse · Mar 25, 2015, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boydisappearing

I fluctuate wildly depending on whether I'm manic or depressed. When I'm depressed I don't want to see anyone, I isolate, I don't shower or leave my house. When I'm manic, I want to be around people all the time, I talk fast, laugh loud.

Baseline, I enjoy being around people but I hate parties. I prefer smaller gatherings or coffee and a good talk with a friend.

Yes. THIS.^^

manicattack · Mar 25, 2015, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joymc2

I'm not sure if this is a bipolar thing but I use to be a bit of a social butterfly. I had a great desire to constantly plan get-togethers, try to make lots of friends and loved to be the life of the party. Of course my erractic behavior didn't keep people around for long but it didn't stop me from trying. Well in the last few years I've pretty much cut ties with most friends & even some family members & I started to live a life of seclusion. I avoid leaving the house unless I have to & I don't have any desire to make any friends. Just the whole thought of socializing now gives me anxiety. Can anyone relate?

I do not necessarily get anxiety, but I went from being everyone's best friend and favorite party girl to ZILCH in about 3.2 seconds. I got my diagnosis and figured out things and now, I prefer to stay home and knit, read, do my nails, etc, than to go out.

I was voted Class Clown and Best Laugh in high school (12 years ago) and now I'm mostly down-to-earth and smiley (for the most part). When I admitted to a few people I was a party girl and got a DUI and spent a couple nights in jail, they were surprised because I don't socially drink with them often. It's no longer in my comfort zone; before, drinking alcohol WAS my comfort zone.

Now, it's something I do mainly from my own home and not when I'm around a lot of people. And I can't remember the last time my husband and I went out with a group, honestly. We have two sets of couple friends that we stick with and call it good.

Nothing wrong with it.

Mar 25, 2015, 02:59 PM

i'm an introvert but get even more introverted when depressed, to the point of reclusive.

Mar 25, 2015, 03:15 PM

I am highly introverted by nature, but much more so when depressed.

When manic, I'm often energized by people and very social, but when depressed, or stable, I'm down right reclusive.

joymc2 · Mar 25, 2015, 03:23 PM

Thanks for all the responses. When I am hypomanic for a second I might feel like I want to socialize but I quickly get negative (like who would even want to hang out with me) & talk myself out of it. I guess I rather be by myself then deal with the possibility of rejection if that makes any sense.

Mar 25, 2015, 05:30 PM

To tell yall the truth, I went from introvert to extrovert. When I was younger I was mentally physically abused by both of my parents. I was so withdrawn you couldn't get a squeak out of me. As I got older, I started loosening up going crazy. Now I'm just all over the place having a ball, especially when I'm hypo, then everyone is my friend.

boogiesmash · Mar 25, 2015, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joymc2

I'm not sure if this is a bipolar thing but I use to be a bit of a social butterfly. I had a great desire to constantly plan get-togethers, try to make lots of friends and loved to be the life of the party. Of course my erractic behavior didn't keep people around for long but it didn't stop me from trying. Well in the last few years I've pretty much cut ties with most friends & even some family members & I started to live a life of seclusion. I avoid leaving the house unless I have to & I don't have any desire to make any friends. Just the whole thought of socializing now gives me anxiety. Can anyone relate?

Joy you exactly describe part of my adult life. Little things that my friends did would cut ties and seclude them. I still have a couple of good friends that I see every now and then but going out to socialize is nerve racking (social anxiety disorder). I have been going through a psychologist who has helped me feel bit more at ease and take anxiety pills as needed (knolopin 1 mg). It was going great then I went into a depression episode and is partly how I got rediagnosed from major depressive to bipolar. But going back talk therapy helps and it is little steps.

Imah · Mar 27, 2015, 06:33 AM

Did I write this?

From social butterfly, to shy turtle = the evolution of my own life over the last 30 years.

I cannot offer advice, but I can keep rowing (since apparently we are in the same boat).

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