Introverts often see themselves as a threatened species. What I mean is that they feel overwhelmed in crowds and often misbehave in such environments. I, for instance, can relate to this. I feel so consumed and inadequate when I’m in a crowded place. I won’t say this is about less self-confidence, but seeing a lot of people who share little or nothing with me turns me off.

I try to belong when I find myself in such environments. Act as a Roman when you are in Rome, right? In the end, I come back to myself and reflect on my gains and losses, and on the moments wasted sitting with people. Understanding who you want to spend time with is very important. Most of the time, you really need to spend more time with yourself. This is not being anti-social. I believe we are not meant to force ourselves on people or to belong to a group. But, a little advice goes thus: try to belong sometimes, not to displease yourself but to spend time with people who might be in dire need of your time and attention. You can always have yourself afterward.