Happy World Introvert Day!

Happy belated World Introvert Day, which was celebrated earlier this week on January 2nd! Introverts and extroverts alike are recovering from holiday festivities. World Introvert Day was created to bring awareness to introvert personalities living in an extroverted world. An introvert is categorized by the preference to be alone, enjoyment of smaller groups of family and friends, and enjoyment of solitary hobbies such as reading, and the tendency to be quiet in group settings.

Mental Health Risks for Introverts

The ongoing pandemic has increased the potential for introverts to develop mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Children and teen introverts are more likely to suffer from:

Increased Isolation: The pandemic interrupted normal academic schedules and completely restructured what a classroom setting looked like with many school going virtual during the worst of the pandemic. That meant increased isolation for children and teens, even robbing introverts of previous socialization time at school, even if it was just with a few select friends or teachers.
Increased Anxiety: The increase in isolation may have also caused a child or teen introvert to develop increased anxiety over their physical health. Introverts, already self-isolating, have more time to reflect on any stress-related problems or research stress-causing issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aversion to Seeking Help: Overcrowded hospitals and increased anxiety may encourage introverts not to seek the help they need for physical ailments or mental health issues. Even a simple in-person visit to see a therapist might feel too scary.

How Introverts can improve their mental health

Although not all introverts develop mental health issues, it is still important for everyone to be to keep working on you and your child or teen’s mental health during these troubling times.

Quality Time: Spend time with people you enjoy spending time with. Although introverted children and teens may naturally want to isolate after a busy holiday season there are likely a few people they would enjoy spending time with – a best friend or maybe even a grandparent. Quality time, not the quantity of time, is what matters most.
Seek Help: Seek help when needed – self-insolation can increase the chances of developing anxiety and depression. If it doesn’t feel safe to do an in-person visit due to the pandemic, many providers are now providing telehealth sessions or apps like Talkspace and Cerebral provide online mental health services.
Get a Hobby: Hobbies of all types bring enjoyment to people every day. The key is to find a hobby that brings YOU joy and relaxation. Everything from gardening to coloring or journaling, to reading are great options.
Exercise: Move your body! Regular exercise has proven to be an effective remedy for low energy. If you can get exercise outside, even better! Sunlight helps raise Vitamin D levels. Low Vitamin D levels have been linked with low energy and greater risk for depression.
Resolve: Make New Year’s Resolutions that center around mental health. Whether that is setting aside intentional time for self-care, seeking out a therapist, or journaling – all of these resolutions can be helpful with putting mental health first in the new year.

The past two years have been tough on everyone’s mental health. Check in with your friends and family, especially the ones who are introverts. Let’s make 2022 the year of putting mental health first and making deliberate choices to improve our mental states.

If you observe signs and symptoms of depression in your child or teen and believe it may be more than stress, call our admissions team today for a free and confidential screening at (805) 366-4000. Camino a Casa offers mental health services at all levels of care – we’ll work together to find the right option for you.

Resources:

Introverts and Depression: Is There Really a Link Between Them? (healthline.com)

World Introvert Day – Official Website | World Introvert Day

https://www.verywellmind.com/the-mental-health-benefits-of-sunlight-5089214

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