I've never been one for large crowds of people, it overwhelms me. Between the pressure of not knowing what to say, and feeling alone in a solid crowd of people, it is exhausting.

I'm the girl who would rather stay in than go out on a Friday night.

I'm the girl who has social anxiety.

I'm also the girl who has only two friends but is learning to accept that it is ok to be an introvert.

First, let me start off by defining two different personality types, so you can understand me just a little bit better.

Introvert: Gaining your energy from being alone.

Extrovert: Gaining your energy from other people.

Introversion and extroversion also come with different characteristics that are explanatory based upon their definitions. So, the fact that I prefer to be only with a couple of friends or by myself shouldn't be so shocking.

No, I don't shun society or social situations at school or work, it just takes some extra effort from me. It's a personal battle inside my head that no one can see except for me.

Being an introvert and having social anxiety, honestly, can be very frustrating. From the surface, nobody can tell who you are as a person. There might be certain body language signals that one can read, but people cannot tell if you are freaking out from the inside.

I literally have to plan out what I am going to say to people before I can even say it. The inner thoughts that I have at this point say, "It's up to you man..." What great help you are, brain, thanks a lot.

Sometimes, I can be so deep in thought on what I would say, or how I would respond that the friends and people that I am talking to are on a completely different subject. I will try to say something, to fill the "gap" between myself and them.

People will just look at me like I don't make any sense because it is all in my head. My perspective of conversation is different, I read into small phrases that have been said and take it to heart. I listen to understand and try to connect myself with the situation so I can empathize better.

As complicated as my thoughts may seem to be, there are also benefits to being introverted and dealing with social anxiety.

I notice details and understand myself very clearly. I spend so many times wrapped up in my own thoughts that I am okay with being alone. It is very entertaining to me to just sit with a cup of coffee, and just enjoy the silence around me. The world around me seems so vivid and full of life.

For years, I pushed and pushed myself to try and engage in more social settings, but I am slowly learning the beauty to both personality types.

Although social settings often do push me, I grow from my experiences and have made my two best friends in the world. My friendship with them is so genuine and real, they understand me completely. I listen better, when I am confidently engaged in a conversation with a loved one, my responses come from the heart. Friends come to me for advice, and I love to be that person for them.

In a world full of introverts and extroverts, I think the important thing is to really just accept yourself for who you are.

If you are one or the other that is fantastic, if you fall into both, that is awesome too. Acceptance is key to understanding the uniqueness which is our world, and it is beautiful. This is just what I see in my world around me.