I recently read Amy Schumer’s memoir, The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo
I was surprised to open the third chapter and seeĀ it titled, I Am an Introvert. And not just because I often find titleĀ capitalisation odd and prefer to capitalise all words in a title because it looks better and makes more sense to me.
No, I was surprised that Amy Schumer considers herselfĀ an introvert.
After all, I’ve watched every episode of her TV show, seen her movie, viewedĀ her stand-up specials, observed her beingĀ interviewed, read interviews in books and magazines, and (now) read her book. She strikes me as a highly extroverted person – seeming to enjoy being surrounded by people, apparently comfortable with attention and noise and lights and crowds and multiple overwhelming projects, evidently at ease sharing immensely personal details š³ about her life.
Yet she, from within her own skin, feels introverted.Ā There’s something in her that identifies with the feeling of overstimulation that’s so characteristic for introverts. Something in her that craves solitude.
I found Schumer’sĀ revelationĀ a goodĀ reminder that how people seem on the outside can involve all kinds of personas, masks, coping mechanisms, and defences. Only each of usĀ can know what we feel within ourselves, how things really are for us.
It also makes me wonder if there aren’t a lot more of us out there – on TV or in the office or at the gym. Looking for all the world like raging extroverts, but feeling something entirely different inside.
It makes me wonder how many people are introverted too. Especially introverts without social anxiety. They might be harder to recognise like Amy, if she didn’t announce it.
@jane excellent point.tnx for the eye opener. I thought introvert & social anxiety went hhand-in-hand.
If you enjoy Venn diagrams (who doesn’t?) then you might like these posts:
Introversion Versus Shyness Explained In A Venn Diagram
Is Introversion The Same As Social Anxiety?
I enjoy Venn diagrams and any graphical representation. Keep them coming. That’s a good post. Thanks for the link.
@Wildflower I am introverted (or ambiverted?) and I experience anxiety at times but it is not social anxiety specifically.
Good point, Jane. Shy and socially anxious introverts are more easily recognised as introverts. But introverts who are neither shy nor anxious are certainly harder to pick.