I am a introvert by birth.
I've been an introvert through childhood and my adulthood, thus far.
It seems however, that the longer I live and the older I become and the more I am surrounded by "extroverts" that demand and judge me - yes demand and literally judge me at times - that I become like them, the more introverted I am actually becoming - and the more I dislike people at large.
As I noted, in a previous reply posting... I have always been shy, quiet, stand backish, stand offish, slow to warm and even slower to trust. This has come, not only from birth but, also years upon years of various abuse from parents and spouse.
Where it was once, some years back... considered quaint and "tolerable". It is now considered snobbish, offensive, and completely not accepted... at least in my circle of the world I live within. I am refusing to inner relate and communicate with my peers, I am repeatedly informed and I must be trained and taught and given "coping skills" to master.
I want to sit, in a semi-darkened room, watching either the sun rise through and over the tall pines or watch it lower, ever slowly and gently, down for it's long slumbered sleep... most of the times... in quiet solitude. Or, while at work... watch the 2 robins, sitting on a branch of the tree right outside my work window, chat with one another while the sun rises and falls over the city's skyline.. in the distance and be thankful that I managed to make it.. through yet, another day.
I do not always want to be like them, the "extroverts".
My mom tends to be a nice blend of introvert and extrovert, while my two sisters are definitely extroverts. My brother and I are both born and calculated introverts. At least I am. My mom says I was always content to play by myself as a baby and child. I remember thinking in my youth that other people were a drag. Being by myself was a lot more fun! I could make music, art, poetry and be happy all day; whereas, with other people, I felt drained, as you said. Drained and bored and irritated that I couldn't be alone. Generally, the more I am left alone, the better I like it. Of course, there have been times when I felt concerned that I wasn't "getting out" enough, that I wasn't socializing enough or didn't have enough friends. But that was because this was what I was being told. By EVERYONE. Even other introverts.
As I am feeling better and perhaps aging, I am realizing more the value of friendships. Nice to have someone to call and talk to on occasion. Like maybe once a week.
But my younger sister? She dies a thousand deaths each night she is alone. She lives for companionship and would almost rather be with the wrong person than to be alone. (Of course, our definitions of the "wrong person" vary.) She is either on the phone or with someone or planning her next outing...all the time. Yes, she sometimes works on crafts alone...when no one else is available. And when she is alone, she feels abandoned. I on the other hand feel loved and accepted when people know they can safely leave me to my own devices. I like to read, watch TV alone, eat alone, go to movies alone, and even dance alone. I like listening to music when someone else isn't going to interrupt. And I DON'T feel I am missing out on anything when I know other people are doing things together. I VANT TO BE ALONE -- I identify with Garbo. I am happiest alone.
I say, "To each her own. Or his own." Enjoy being an extrovert if you are so inclined. Enjoy being an introvert if that's your thing. For myself, I have found it causes more trouble than it's worth to try being something I am not.
I love how you diagnosed Mother Theresa. Hysterical. We are so busy characterizing, cataloging, diagnosing EVERYTHING and everyone. We have to label everyone or our pigeonholed world starts to totter. If we aren't glandhanding and backslapping everyone we are missing out. On what, what are we missing out on?Another sale, another banal conversation that neither party will remember 10 minutes from now. In Jungian terms (and who has heard of Jung everyone is so busy out there making new pointless connections. ) I am both. I guess I am glad that I am a bit of both. But when ever (as pointed out by many here) I am even noticed by an extrovert it is to be judged as if my introverted moments were part of their case study. When did it get like this. I don't remember introversion being such a bad thing when I was a child. Were the one's who didn't cause the nuns to run hysterically out of the classroom. Those extroverted boys on the other hand....
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I used to think that being extroverted was part of being manic and being introverted was being depressed. I think I still relate those extroverstion and introversion feelings with being bipolar even though I understand that there is a personality and physiological difference. Maybe it's a societal thing that is ingrained in our heads that if you would rather sit by yourself instead of getting in the mix of the crowd there must be something wrong with you. I don't know. I enjoy being an introvert and am proud of it!