I can freely admit that I am a self-proclaimed functional introvert. If you put me in a situation that requires interaction, I can do a passable imitation of a lively person. However, hours after, I would shut myself away just to be able to regroup. People give me anxiety sometimes and constantly being in the limelight of people is exhausting. However, in order to survive, sometimes necessary things such as being in the company of a lot of people is required.

There are many people who are introverts. We are, most notably, the ones who call it quits at 10 at night, enjoy staying home and need the company of silence to recharge. However, there is always a situation that comes up when we have to swallow the exasperation and finally turn off the awkward. Below are some words of encouragement for all of you who are 50% functional and 50% dysfunctional introverts.

First piece of advice: Babbling is a first reaction in the face of a seemingly awkward situation. Just breathe and embrace it. For many of us introverts, it is hard to acclimate to a new encounter and we tend to start off on the wrong foot. An example of this is when a cute guy/girl is behind us at Starbucks and we accidentally spill coffee on his/her very nice, but unfortunately, very white shirt.

Words start flying out of our mouth: apologies, supplications, excuse and literally anything that would make our hearts stop pounding and eyes stop tearing. The mounting tension gets worse and worse until it just becomes a chaotic scene. Brilliant. The next time that situation occurs (or any unintended situation occurs), deep breaths, regroup and react calmly.

Second piece of advice: Take extra measures to feel deserving of people's company. A lot of us struggle with making friends, going on dates and having meaningful relationships because we essentially feel inadequate in the eyes of another. Surrounding ourselves with people who care about who we are and less about what we have to offer makes us feel that it is indeed worth it to be a little bit extroverted from time to time.

Third piece of advice: Awkward is a part of our psyche. Acceptance makes it easier to turn it off. Whether we are networking to get ahead in our careers or trying to have a serious conversation, awkwardness creeps into our voices to the point that people notice. Part of that makes it hard to be taken seriously and it can be considered frustrating. Accepting that some parts of our personality makes it difficult to turn off the awkwardness can make it easier for us to converse easily and confidently.

Some of this advice may or may not pertain to you, but it helps tremendously to know that there are others who understand the mentality behind introversion. It is never wrong or socially unacceptable to be that way. However, there are ways to manage the "awkwardness" and turn into a social butterfly. Until, of course, your cone of silence is awaiting you once again.