Introverts seem to have specific ways they deal with illness compared to extroverts, especially in their response to other's treatment of them. What's been your experience as an introvert when you're sick? How does your introversion impact your personality you are sick? Do you feel your introversion affects your health or influences how you handle health concerns? Do you think it affects how you relate to loved ones who are concerned about your health? Do you think introverts are likely to wait longer to get help than extroverts? Do you let people know you're ill or do you tend to keep to yourself? Do you speak up when you're ill or in pain or do you wait a long time before letting someone know?
Really good post! Thanks for posing these questions. I do think Introverts and Extroverts deal with sickness differently now that you bring this up, and it's very interesting.
1. What's been your experience as an introvert when you're sick?
Sometimes I feel a lot of shame, like it's a weakness. Since I already claim more "me time" than extroverts in order to recharge, I feel like tending to my illness and the necessary down time to do this must seem like another big self-indulgence, or just more weird self-isolating behaviors.
2. How does your introversion impact your personality you are sick?
I'm not sure if this is my introversion, Depression or some combination, but I tend to catastrophize, become more withdrawn, feel very needy but also feel unable to express my needs to anyone (ex: I have trouble asking my husband for help with things when I have a migraine etc).
3.Do you feel your introversion affects your health or influences how you handle health concerns?
Not sure. Again, my depression is involved and sometimes it really is hard to tease the two apart. My need for privacy seems to lead me to not seeking medical attention for things. Also, it's a form of "putting yourself out there" to say "hey, I'm sick, help me." I just can't do it, even to doctors who are paid to help. It leads to a certain degree of self-neglect.
4. Do you think it affects how you relate to loved ones who are concerned about your health?
Yes, high degree of shame, like I said, because I feel my extreme introversion already makes me look neurotic and self-involved. So I tend to withdraw more and say nothing of how I am feeling and do not admit to being sick.
5. Do you think introverts are likely to wait longer to get help than extroverts?
Not sure. I know I am, but I can't speak for other introverts. My gut says yes. I think introverts are more likely to try and solve the problem themselves first before seeking any outside medical help.
6. Do you let people know you're ill or do you tend to keep to yourself?
I keep to myself.
7. Do you speak up when you're ill or in pain or do you wait a long time before letting someone know?
I wait a long time. My husband of nearly 8 years, for example, has no idea I am nearly deaf in one ear. And he works in medical devices engineering and did work on cochlear implant devices for years and knows a lot about hearing loss and solutions.