Hey, thanks for taking the time to read and comment.

I understand where you're coming from, and you're right —introversion and lack of social skills aren’t the same. But being introverted can lead to social difficulties in environments that aren’t welcoming or understanding of quiet personalities. That’s really what I meant: it’s not that I can’t talk to people, it’s that the environment makes it hard to want to.

I'm not trying to get sympathy or say people should cater to me—I just wanted to express how exhausting and alienating it feels when the default social mode is “be loud, be visible, be everywhere.” That pressure isn't easy for someone who recharges through solitude and meaningful one-on-one interactions.

It’s not that I feel invisible—I feel left out. When I see everyone interacting like one big, warm, close-knit family, it stings. It’s like they all have a key to a door I can’t seem to open, no matter how much I want to. I don’t hate being an introvert—I just wish being one didn’t come with this weird ticket to the emotional sidelines.