the dopamine path

[lauralh]

I finished The Introvert Advantage today, which is one of those self-help books that tells you that you are cool just the way you are. And here's how to cope with the big bad world. Well, anyway, a lot of it was clearly for people who have more problems with their introversion than I do. The most interesting part was the basic brain differences they'd observed, and those are probably more accurate for more serious introverts. But I definitely do tend to shut off stressful situations. The book compared it to coming across a coyote vs. coming across a rattlesnake. For the first situation, charging at the coyote would drive him away, but for the second, standing stark still would be optimal.

However the book did give several good strategies for keeping your friends/dates happy even when you have no desire for human contact, so I would recommend it if you have problems in that arena. Or in any arena that requires you to interact with people, there are several tips on how to "keep the batteries charged." Also a great chapter on the introvert child. I am far more extroverted now than I was as a youth, and so much of that chapter was like reading my biography.

Comments

[fritz-da-kat.livejournal.com]

I don't like people much, but alcohol helps.
Works for me at least...

[perich.livejournal.com]

I'll keep an eye out.

[markedformetal.livejournal.com]

Placing on hold at the library right now.

I'd LOVE strategies for keeping my loved ones happily at bay. I adore them but I can't spend a whole lot of time un-alone, and I want to make them feel loved in the ways that I can.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoox

[markedformetal.livejournal.com]

Oh, and: when in public, I wear my giant headphones and sunglasses constantly, so nobody tries to make eye contact or to talk to me. If they do try to talk to me I just ignore them, because it's obvious I'm wearing headphones.

Without my headphones and sunglasses I can't stand to be in public, because people try to talk to me and look at me and I hate it.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoox

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

heh, this other book i'm reading advises against wearing headphones when out alone, because the people who want to sneak up on you will.

[markedformetal.livejournal.com]

I'd rather fight a random psycho than be conversed with by a multitude of chuckleheads. Seriously.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxox

[markedformetal.livejournal.com]

Oh, and most of the time they're not actually connected to anything. I just wear them so people don't try to talk to me.

Because I am a CRAZY LADY. :)

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxox

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

They should give cellphone earpieces to homeless people so they look less crazy!

[sarahbliss.livejournal.com]

LOL! I do that too.

I hate it when I an wearing them and people try to talk to me anyway. I obviously CAN'T HEAR YOU or don't wish to. And they always seem surprise that I keep walking and don't actually stop and take them off so I can listen to whatever fascinating thing they have to say.

[markedformetal.livejournal.com]

I KNOW!!!! Can you even imagine that kind of egotism, to think that I we (a) stop, and (b) REMOVE MY HEADPHONES to listen and respond? When it's usually something retarded or offensive anyway? (In the summer time when my tattoos show, people always want to talk to me about them--"Did they hurt?" etc.)

*rolling eyes*

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