I found an article here on the internet that discusses the topic of giftedness and introversion. I read the article and I felt that it has helped me in a certain way. I'm highly introverted and, being an Aspie, I find social situations to be so daunting and not worth the tremendous amount of time and effort I need to expend in order to sustain myself in social interactions. My main issue is the sense of being different and not being able to relate very well with the people I am interacting with, which, in turn, causes a significant amount of anxiety to ensue. I often feel like I'm being criticized for being an odd and awkward person. The article I have found here helped me in a way that made me realize that it's okay to be who I am. I am highly sensitive to criticism of any sort, even positive criticism. I am also a very self-conscious person in that I have irrational worries about the way I appear to others. So you can begin to imagine the sort of challenges I have to face when engaging in social interactions. I have been going out more and gaining some experience in the social scene, during which I am constantly reminding myself that it's okay to be me. If some people don't like it then it's their problem and not anything I should worry about.
If you are a parent of an introverted child, or if you are introverted, I recommend that you read this article.
Gifted and Introverted Children
09 May 2009, 12:41 pm
