I loved your article. Answering the final question, I think in my case it is a combination of the two. Peace returns us to a safe place and perhaps it is natural to want to protect it, precisely to avoid pain.
I think I'm a combination of both because I don't really fit in the emotionally wounded category completely despite the fact that I was emotionally wounded. I do like being alone but I don't dislike being around people either. I do have anxiety and I don't have any sadness right but I still have anxiety from all of my past I had major depressive disorder for several decades.
Some people are silent because their souls love peace. Others are silent because they have talked too much and haven't been understood. Both appear the same from the outside, but one is serenity, the other is a wound. True introversion finds peace in solitude, while emotional wounds make solitude a refuge. One wants to turn inward, the other distances themselves from people to avoid being hurt. And sometimes, it's hardest to distinguish between these two. You should ask yourself this question: Do you truly rest when you are alone, or are you withdrawing so that no one will hurt you again? Because peace heals, but fear builds invisible walls.
I’m a introvert first but a few years ago had a terrible family breakup. It rocked me to my core and I’m still hesitant to open up or share much. I’m still walking on eggshells and still emotionally hurt. So it depends on the person as to whether I’m an introvert or emotionally hurt. When I have dinner with a certain good friend, I’m drained and need quiet time for a few weeks before I see her again.
I was severely damaged emotionally. Because there was no support team, as a child, I sought aloness and quietness for safety and healing. Living in quietness is peaceful and comforting and restorative and satisfying. I wouldn't change for anything or anyone.
I am both, like many others have said here. I wonder though if it's easier (especially for others to accept) to simply describe ourselves as an introvert rather than an emotionally wounded individual?
This is indeed an important distinction to be aware of when we pull back from people. I am a wounded introvert myself and becoming aware of how my energy is recharged and drained has made healing the wounded self easier to navigate. Thanks for sharing 💛
A very well articulated argument about a quite complex issue, the causality of emotional hurt is difficult to understand. One would think that there would be a correlation between consciousness and emotional distress, however, it may take many years for one to understand, the trauma that comes from a sometimes innocent behaviour. It has taken me many years to accept my family upbringing, caused me to distance myself from my parents and siblings. I knew from a relatively early age that I was different, I liked solitude and always enjoyed my own company, now I question whether my attitude caused my family to treat me differently or whether I retreated because of their attitudes toward me. I was always being told that I was different, an understatement, surely. I know I can be quite prickly around people particularly when the conversations are vacuous and circular, the few close friends I have, have remained by my side for many years, one commented to me after my Mother’s funeral, that it seemed my family disliked me. I still need to have periods of solitude, luckily, my professional life allowed me to be alone in my car for up to 6 hours a day, it allowed me to think to grow and reinforced my beliefs about the difference between friends and acquaintances,
After many years of experience, my opinion is that it is almost impossible to not have a combination of the two, because being an introvert often brings misunderstanding from others, which in turn can be quite hurtful, especially if you are also sensitive.
Bears and batteries. I believe I experience this, and it makes sense after the tilted head and scrunched up face of confusion fades. The introvert in me needs to retreat to recharge my batteries. As my batteries regain strength, the bears become smaller. They don’t go away, sometimes there are too many, and some don’t lose their size or importance. However, as my strength returns I feel much more confident about dancing with, or wrestling, my bears as the case may be.
I know I repeat myself, but I am, indeed, an Introvert. I think everyone has situations in their lives where emotional trauma can and does affect us. But I have known people who identify with introverts but clearly have serious emotional trauma issues that override the characteristics of introverts. I think it’s an easy way to avoid facing the trauma. And being an introvert is a popular option these days. My humble opinion.
I loved your article. Answering the final question, I think in my case it is a combination of the two. Peace returns us to a safe place and perhaps it is natural to want to protect it, precisely to avoid pain.
I think I'm a combination of both because I don't really fit in the emotionally wounded category completely despite the fact that I was emotionally wounded. I do like being alone but I don't dislike being around people either. I do have anxiety and I don't have any sadness right but I still have anxiety from all of my past I had major depressive disorder for several decades.
I’m in the both camp!! I genuinely need to recharge and I also think there is a protective aspect to my solitude time.
Funny I stopped reading before your section that says you can be both. Haha
Some people are silent because their souls love peace. Others are silent because they have talked too much and haven't been understood. Both appear the same from the outside, but one is serenity, the other is a wound. True introversion finds peace in solitude, while emotional wounds make solitude a refuge. One wants to turn inward, the other distances themselves from people to avoid being hurt. And sometimes, it's hardest to distinguish between these two. You should ask yourself this question: Do you truly rest when you are alone, or are you withdrawing so that no one will hurt you again? Because peace heals, but fear builds invisible walls.
I’m a introvert first but a few years ago had a terrible family breakup. It rocked me to my core and I’m still hesitant to open up or share much. I’m still walking on eggshells and still emotionally hurt. So it depends on the person as to whether I’m an introvert or emotionally hurt. When I have dinner with a certain good friend, I’m drained and need quiet time for a few weeks before I see her again.
I was severely damaged emotionally. Because there was no support team, as a child, I sought aloness and quietness for safety and healing. Living in quietness is peaceful and comforting and restorative and satisfying. I wouldn't change for anything or anyone.
I am both, like many others have said here. I wonder though if it's easier (especially for others to accept) to simply describe ourselves as an introvert rather than an emotionally wounded individual?
This is indeed an important distinction to be aware of when we pull back from people. I am a wounded introvert myself and becoming aware of how my energy is recharged and drained has made healing the wounded self easier to navigate. Thanks for sharing 💛
Welcome to *The Inward Arrow*, where we balance deep soul-work with the absurdity of being human.
A very well articulated argument about a quite complex issue, the causality of emotional hurt is difficult to understand. One would think that there would be a correlation between consciousness and emotional distress, however, it may take many years for one to understand, the trauma that comes from a sometimes innocent behaviour. It has taken me many years to accept my family upbringing, caused me to distance myself from my parents and siblings. I knew from a relatively early age that I was different, I liked solitude and always enjoyed my own company, now I question whether my attitude caused my family to treat me differently or whether I retreated because of their attitudes toward me. I was always being told that I was different, an understatement, surely. I know I can be quite prickly around people particularly when the conversations are vacuous and circular, the few close friends I have, have remained by my side for many years, one commented to me after my Mother’s funeral, that it seemed my family disliked me. I still need to have periods of solitude, luckily, my professional life allowed me to be alone in my car for up to 6 hours a day, it allowed me to think to grow and reinforced my beliefs about the difference between friends and acquaintances,
Both. 🙋♀️ The suggestion of asking myself which one is requesting space was a key take away for me.
It’s a little hard to tell which one is the most prevalent. 🧐. I’ll have to think about it.
After many years of experience, my opinion is that it is almost impossible to not have a combination of the two, because being an introvert often brings misunderstanding from others, which in turn can be quite hurtful, especially if you are also sensitive.
Bears and batteries. I believe I experience this, and it makes sense after the tilted head and scrunched up face of confusion fades. The introvert in me needs to retreat to recharge my batteries. As my batteries regain strength, the bears become smaller. They don’t go away, sometimes there are too many, and some don’t lose their size or importance. However, as my strength returns I feel much more confident about dancing with, or wrestling, my bears as the case may be.
I know I repeat myself, but I am, indeed, an Introvert. I think everyone has situations in their lives where emotional trauma can and does affect us. But I have known people who identify with introverts but clearly have serious emotional trauma issues that override the characteristics of introverts. I think it’s an easy way to avoid facing the trauma. And being an introvert is a popular option these days. My humble opinion.