Are You Really an Introvert? Or Just Burnt Out?

There was a time I thought I was a full-blown introvert. I would skip gatherings, avoid group study sessions, and just the thought of picking up a phone call made me want to hide under a blanket. I loved being alone with my thoughts, my journal, and lo-fi music humming in the background.

But then something weird happened.

During a school trip, I had the best time. I was laughing with people, dancing around a bonfire, and even started conversations with strangers (like… who was I?). I did not feel drained, I felt alive. That is when I started questioning my label: was I actually introverted, or had I just been exhausted all this time?

Let’s break it down. In psychology, introversion is not about being shy or antisocial. It simply means you recharge your energy by being alone, while extroverts recharge by being around others. But here is the twist: when we’re constantly overwhelmed, even extroverts can start acting like introverts, not because they’ve changed, but because their brains and bodies are begging for rest.

In our hyper-connected world, it is so easy to confuse burnout with introversion. School, social media, family expectations, it all piles up. And when your brain is overloaded, you naturally pull away from stimulation. You start saying no to plans, stop replying to messages, and crave silence. That is not necessarily introversion. That’s just your system asking for a reset.

A friend of mine, the most extroverted person I know, once went totally off-grid during finals. She told me, “I just can not people right now.” That is burnout talking, not introversion.

So how do you tell the difference?

Think about this: when you cancel plans, do you feel relieved and peaceful? Or do you feel relief followed by loneliness or regret? Do you want to connect with people, but just don’t have the energy? That’s often burnout.

Personally, when I started journaling, meditating, and setting small boundaries (like no calls after 9 PM), I noticed something: I became more open again. I started craving connection in small, meaningful doses. Not because I am suddenly extroverted, but because I was no longer running on empty.

So don’t rush to label yourself. You don’t need to fit into a neat little introvert-extrovert box. We’re dynamic, messy, evolving humans not MBTI quizzes. Sometimes you are the life of the party, sometimes you’re under a blanket with your cat and a cup of tea. Both are valid.

What matters is tuning in and asking yourself: Am I alone because I love solitude… or because I need healing?