Summary

The author describes a personal transformation from being an extroverted singer and social butterfly to becoming an introvert who experiences anxiety around people and prefers solitude with family.

Abstract

The author recounts a significant shift in their personality, from a life filled with social interactions and enjoying the spotlight as a singer, to a preference for limited social engagement and a focus on family life. This change is attributed to a combination of factors, including the evolving social climate where free speech is perceived as restricted, personal experiences such as serving in Afghanistan, and a deepened commitment to family. The author expresses a reluctance to engage with large crowds, avoids phone conversations, and experiences anxiety at the prospect of visiting busy places like Harry Potter World, despite an interest in doing so. The transformation has been so profound that the author now finds the mere presence of many people overwhelming, leading to a near-agoraphobic state. The article concludes with the author inviting readers to share their own experiences of transitioning from extroversion to introversion and to subscribe for future posts.

Opinions

The author once thrived on social interactions and being the center of attention, enjoying activities like singing and welcoming new people into social circles.
There is a nostalgic fondness for past experiences, such as winning the American Idol Experience at Disney, which the author considers a testament to their former "coolness."
The author now perceives large groups of people as a source of nervousness and prefers to avoid interactions, using strategies like wearing headphones at the gym.
The change in the author's social behavior is linked to a perceived shift in societal attitudes towards free speech and the increased importance of family in their life.
The author's service in Afghanistan is suggested to have contributed to their shift in personality, though they acknowledge that it's one of several potential reasons.
Despite a desire to visit places like Harry Potter World, the author's anxiety about being around many people overshadows their interest.
The author expresses a clear preference for written communication, such as email or text, over phone conversations, with the exception of calls from their mother.
The author questions whether others have undergone a similar transition from extroversion to introversion and seeks to engage with readers who share this experience.

My Journey From Being An Extrovert To An Introvert

How People Just Became Too…People-y

I used to love people.

No joke…I was the one who would go out of my way to introduce myself to someone new…have them join us at our table and make them feel included.

Something many of you don’t know about me is that I used to be a singer.

Don’t get me wrong…like 20 years ago…but still. I used to sing (think Joan Jett or Pat Benatar type of music).

And I was pretty good at it.

I even won American Idol once…okay…so it was the American Idol Experience at Disney…but still…I used to be relatively cool (toot toot)!

And I enjoyed being the center of attention.

Being around large groups of people never made me nervous.

In fact, it was just the opposite! Crowds excited me!

The Switcheroo

But now…20 years later…being around people has the exact opposite effect.

I love being around my family.

But as far as people go, the buck stops there.

Crowds now make me nervous.

I purposely walk into and out of the gym with my headphones in, hoping that people won’t see the need to talk to me while I am there.

My son competes in jiu-jitsu competitions, but I hate going to them because of how many people are there.

I really want to take my kids to Harry Potter World at Universal (okay okay…I’m lying…I want to go to Harry Potter World). But the thought of having to be around all those people gives me anxiety.

I hate talking on the phone (except to my mom…I look forward to my mommy’s phone calls). I much rather email or text.

It is as if I changed from a total extrovert to being almost agoraphobic.

So What Changed?

I honestly don’t know how to answer that.

The world has changed.

Free thoughts and free speech are frowned upon and you always have to watch what you say…something I have never been very good at. Which makes me automatically not want to talk to others.

On top of that, my world has turned into my family. I wanted nothing more than to be with my family.

It is chaotic enough without adding other people into the mix.

I know a lot of my personality changed after going to Afghanistan, probably for a multitude of reasons.

But I can’t pin down one reason as to why I no longer like people…besides that it seems a lot of people just…well…are too people-y.

Are there any other extro-to-introvert converts in here? What were your reasons for making the switch?

Share your stories and then make sure you subscribe so you never miss a post in the future!