Introverts are interesting people. Strange, but interesting. If you have introverted friends or roommates, odds are they've challenged your thinking in ways you never thought about. They're great people to have around and introverts and extroverts often have complementary skill sets and personalities, which means they can make really good friends or roommate pairs, but it also means that each person's needs can get lost in translation and social energy differences. Since introverts are often less assertive and don't feel comfortable voicing the problem when their needs aren't being met, it's easy for their extroverted counterparts to blithely assume nothing is wrong with having 10 people over to your room for the eighth night in a row, while your poor smothered, introvert roommate is secretly having an internal scream-fest. So without further ado, here's a guide on how to care for your introvert, written by the decidedly extroverted roommate of one.
Thou Shalt Not Have Guests Over 24/7
This may look like your idea of a good time, but to your introvert friends this is a nightmare with a side order of exhaustion. Be social and have people over, but run it by your roommate if you're having a crowd; that's just common courtesy. And try to only throw an impromptu rave every now and again. You could probably use some downtime, too.
Thou Shalt Not Force Thy Introverted Friends To Talk
Maybe you have a high tolerance for silence when someone is in the room. If you don't, now is the time to start learning that skill. Introverts usually like to have time to process things and be alone with their thoughts before they're ready to talk about the things. Give them what they need; trying to force a subject before an introvert is ready to talk about it is like trying to hit a socially awkward dartboard with conversational boomerangs.
But When They Do Want To Talk, Thou Shalt Listen To Them
The most excited introverts usually get is when they really want to discuss something. My introverted-of-the-introverts roommate often says that extroverted people "barf rainbows," while introverts keep their rainbows bottled up inside. When an introvert has a burning great idea or realization, it's like someone dropped a full packet of Mentos into a liter of rainbow Coke and shook it up. Listen to the person's idea and enjoy the barrage of enthusiasm: They're rarities for most introverts.
When In Doubt, Tea And Blankets Usually Do The Trick
Maybe it's one of those days and your introvert just doesn't have the energy to talk about it, or go anywhere where there will be people. When those days come, a good book or some Netflix, tea and a cozy blanket is all the person needs. Try to be patient with your introverts; after all, they have to put up with you when you're bouncing between interactions like a conversational firecracker.
