Introvert with social anxiety

Hey all, I'm new here! So as the title suggests, I'm an introvert (INFJ on the MBTI test) with social anxiety. (I have generalized anxiety and it carries over into every aspect of my life.) I have a decent amount of friends and still have somewhat of a social life, but I also don't really WANT much of one either. Not just because of the anxiety, but because I'm drained by too much social interaction and I need a lot of time to myself to recharge. I've found that I tend to befriend other introverts because their friendships don't require much maintenance. (As in, constant talking or hanging out in order to maintain it.)
Also in my experiences it seems like a lot of extroverts have social anxiety but still want to go out, make friends, etc so they don't really get the other side of it that I also deal with. It's almost like I'm worried my SA will never improve because I have no desire to really make it improve because I don't enjoy much socializing, if that makes sense.

Is there anybody else out there like me? Sometimes I feel like it's a double whammy with the introversion and social anxiety together and it's hard for people to understand. Just wanted to vent.

hi, Welcome.

I am a fellow introvert as well. Bad night to type this message, it's hard for me to focus tonight. So I'll make this short.

SA started for me at 4, still have quite a bit of it, I'm 22 now. It's a long story. Literally.

I realized how valuable introversion is when I was in high school and cut out all of my friends, spent time alone in the library or cut class and went and spent alone time in the park. Ended up finding my life-long passion out of it all. I still don't have any "friends", i prefer it that way. I'll go out for a drink with some coworkers sometimes, get along with people at meetings, e.t.c, all of the things I NEED to do to make it by. That works well for me.

Glad you're here. I hope these words made sense, or else I probably look like a moron right now lol.

Hi, I have introversion and social anxiety as well. I sometimes feel like being a complete hermit. There are many people who are actual hermits, living in seclusion and isolation and live full lives like that. I think that some people simply appreciate solitude a lot. I do have some friends but don't socialise a lot, maybe due partly to my social anxiety etc.

I used to think I was an introvert but have just read an article about selective/elective mutism. I have always struggled to talk to people I dont know well and the article seemed to describe me exactly.

I always feel uncomfortable in social situations and would much rather stay at how by myself. Over the years I have become a bit of a urban hermit and tell myself I prefer it that way. At the same time I feel different and that i should be socialising more. I think it is causing me depression as well as holding me back at work and other social situations. I am already taking medication for anxiety so its not to bad and I might be able to improve hopefully.

Maybe you are experiencing something similar.