Which takes more energy?

Post Reply New Topic

Which part of social interaction takes more energy (or is more dreadful) for you? Is it the preparation (making sure you are presentable, mentally preparing yourself, making the choice to make yourself go) or the actual act of being involved?

For me I think the part I dread the most is preparing. It takes so much energy for me to prepare for social interaction, that it is very hard for me to motivate myself to even start. Once I actually get where I need to be, survival mode kicks in, and I do what I have to to get through without thinking much about it, which makes the actual interaction easier for me.

It takes me a lot more effort to prepare, which is why I've been skipping that part.

They're both stressful, but the actual participation is much more draining.

As tiring as preparing can be, participating is worse for me. Regardless how well you prepare, something can always go wrong or "off script". I don't like surprises much.

i can prepare as much as i dream and feel the random energy to participate, but then while participating my energy goes down and i have to get away and refuel my batteries.

Definitely participation. I don't spend much energy trying to anticipate what may or may not be said at a social function. Too much work and I never get it right. But the noise and forced conversation is a draining. I can keep up the pretense for only so long then I shut down.

Preparation is stressful because participation is draining. I mean I generally do like to socialize and talk to people, but if I don't have access to quiet or at least private space, my brain almost feels like it's filling up with static and I get more and more burned out, and unable to sustain any kind of socializing.

Participation. The thing is I prepare, I feel I am ready. And then I get nervous in the situation and fail badly.

I think preparing is so exhausting that by the time it comes to participation I'm drained. However, when I barely prepare I may do a lot better.

Everything about the whole process from beginning to end does drain me. I need a considerable amount of time to recharge after social interaction (including work). However, it sounds like things might be a little easier on the front end if I could figure out how not to stress myself by going autopilot until I get there. I really hate "checking out" and feeling disconnected, but I'm not sure how else to not think about the situation I am about to put myself in to.

Just like right now, I am sitting here in front of the computer wishing I did not have to go to work because I know that I will have to make phone calls and talk to people I don't know. I will be forced to interact with a supervisor that I don't understand, and who in turn does not understand me at all.

Ooo...I just looked and my calendar and realized I have a webinar this afternoon - which means 2 hrs in which I will not be required to interact with anyone. Yay!! But I still dread the rest of the day

If I took more time to "prepare" I'd probably find it worse than the actual interaction.

Maybe that's why so many interactions don't go well.

I'm sorry.......social interwhat? Why am I here again. OMG, I'm truly lost.

For me participating is the most stressful. If I have to interact socially quite a bit during the day, I tend to feel drained afterwards and in need of alone time.