Why do introverts need so much alone time?

Two Main Personality Types
Introverts and Extroverts are two major personality types originally devised by Carl Jung. What is the difference between these personalities?​ While introverts are known for being quiet and extroverts are known for being outgoing, there's a lot more to it than just these observations. Introversion and extroversion refers to how you interact with your internal and external world. 

​What Charges You Up?
​We can use the analogy of a phone battery to explain this. ​

An extrovert's battery is charged up by the external world. They love being around people and enjoy being social. There's nothing like a party to charge an extrovert's battery. Sometimes it even takes a few hours afterward for them to calm down.

An introvert's battery is charged up by their internal world. They come alive when they ponder ideas and delve into their own feelings. They love to analyze, reflect, and enjoy doing so when they are alone and when things are quiet.

Who doesn't love seeing this when they glance at their phone?

Danger! The introvert is about to shut down.

When introverts are around too many people for too long, their battery gets drained and may even go dead. Some introverts last longer than others. It's not uncommon to see an introvert go quiet, stare into space, and disconnect if they are in a crowd too long. They aren't trying to be rude and they don't necessarily want to shut people out, they are just feeling overstimulated.

Taking Care of an Introvert
So what should you if you are an extrovert and your introverted friend or partner has shut down? Give them some space. Encourage then to take a break and have some alone time. Introverts are often misunderstood. They don't want to be anti-social. Many times, they really do care about people—but they tend to prefer one-on-one time with individual people, or prefer hanging out with small groups of 2-3 others.

​One of the best things you can do to take care of your introverted partner or friend is to understand that they are wired differently. Don't moralize their personality differences. They aren't wrong, just different—and so are you!  Many times, introverts and extroverts are strangely attracted to one another and often become close friends, or even lovers. God made us all unique, which is a good thing. We all have our natural strengths, weaknesses, and quirks.

"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us." —Romans 12:4-6

What if I feel like both?
Here's the thing—Carl Jung said that no one is 100% an introvert or 100% an extrovert. In fact, there is another category called an ambivert—someone who is equally introverted and extroverted. Think of the whole thing more like a scale. In reality, we ALL have our introverted and extroverted moments. Your personality really centers on which side you tend to gravitate toward the most.
​
What if I don't know which personality type I am?
If you have never taken a personality test before, consider taking one so you can learn more about yourself. The Christian DISC® Assessment can measure whether you are an introvert or extrovert, and assesses several other personality distinctives as well.

If you know whether you are an introvert or extrovert, mention it in the comments below. How did you find out whether you were introverted or extroverted?