What you describe, I know all too well. While I don't mind going out in public, I have a very difficult time talking to people unless I'm very familiar with them, and have to force it quite often. This doesn't include things like ordering in a restaurant or talking to customer service on the phone because that's all business, but in my late teens I couldn't call to order a pizza, couldn't call around to places asking about a job listing, and couldn't even call my own barber to make an appointment. I was terrified.

The furry fandom and its amazing open acceptance has helped me quite a bit in breaking through those shells of introversion that were holding me back, but only to a certain extent. I'm still terrified to talk to most people, finding relief in obscurity in the background but wishing so much I could be a part of those conversations, parties, dances, or whatever. It took me about 2 years just to get up the guts to talk to Abrahm about his choice of camera lenses for an event like a furry con. I envy those who find it easy as could be to strike up a conversation with anyone. There's a chance getting a fursuit (if I did) could help since it would allow me to basically become a more ideal character and I'd no longer have the fear that people are looking at me, the human meatbag. While there is peace and relief to be in the silent shadows, it is also painfully lonely.

You already have your fursuits which allow you to become a whole new character and leave Kurst the introvert behind for a while. When people can smile when they see you, want to share a fuzzy hug with you, and have a delightful conversation with you, that must help you feel good about meeting and talking to people whether friends or strangers.

Do you mean hard to go out and see people as in "don't want to really" or as in anxious? For me it was before because I was anxious, now I really just don't want to. XD (I took a test - I was 94% introvert lol)

Well, Mr. Yote, I'm glad you don't mind being around me.

I can't wait for you to visit next month. We can hide in my apartment and avoid the awful humans... :)

Yeah, so am I. Years of living outside my comfort zone finally caught up with me though, and I don't really go to meets any more.

Mr Kurst, I think of you when I see this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAkDnIQ0yS8

I know how this goes. I like to be around people sometimes, but I need my alone time. My only real issue is sometimes I feel I need too much of it.

Yup... always knew you were Kurst with that... hehehe eerf!
*tries ta ward off multiple blows with the nerf whifflebat* :P

I'm shy in front of people I don't know well but I open up just fine around friends or those with common interests, which is one reason I like furry cons so much. It's a whole big building full of people with largely the same hobbies!

As someone who is extremely extroverted and loves socializing with people...

1. I apologize if I every put you off, in the future (we haven't properly met yet),

2. Thank you for making the effort to be around people. We appreciate it.

Being a fursuit introvert means looking down at your furboots.

Being a fursuit extrovert means looking at others furboots.

I think of introverts as those who create their own energy and extroverts as those who need energy from other people. think of energy as an arbitrary amount of social fulfillment, the same way as you describe it. In a sense you give your own generated energy to those individuals so you run out thus need to recharge. I'm the same way where I love talking to people but in my own way, I prefer to get the serious stuff done myself. Its very difficult for me to meet new people when I am not expecting to for that reason.

We all have a swing to being introvert or extrovert, its only if we allow those inner feelings show to control us day after day that we develop unhealthy habits. Otherwise we just try to pass ourselves off as normal people. Myself I feel like I play a game of Twister in my head, like every hour on the hour. One moment I'm introverted, next I'm extroverted, next I'm something else.

This is accurate.

I hate it how people treat it like it is some kind of disease or that it's not the right way to live.

The way I see it, as long as you do right by yourself and others, live how you want to live.

That's pretty much how I feel. I try to put on a good "social mask," but sometimes I can't, I just get too anxious. Especially when it's large groups in an enclosed area where it's hard to move around. :(

I relate to this as well. With furries or non-furries introversion has been a constant challenge for me to face, but is much easier once I become familiar with at least one person in a group setting. It is kind of nice to know it is a shared feeling though, so thank you for posting this.

My thoughts exactly. I describe it as a social battery. I can handle so much, and it's great for that time, but when the battery is drained I need to be alone for a while to recharge. Otherwise I get a bit grumpy lol.