The Gift of Introversion

4. Introverts Don’t Necessarily Dislike Public Speaking; They Just Hate the Small
Talk That Follows. People Living with Social Anxiety Worry They’re Being Judged
By A Crowd.
When it comes to public speaking or presentations, introverts loathe the
meaningless talk after the event but may not hate the address itself. For those
living with social anxiety, standing in front of a group is the problem.
Perfectionism is a side effect of the condition, and those dealing with it are often
afraid they’ll mess up or say the wrong thing.
“There are often thoughts about people disapproving or likely making fun of the
person with anxiety,” Schwartz said. “People often expect they will be
embarrassed or ashamed by something they will say or do — ‘My voice sounds
funny’ or ‘I feel inarticulate’ or something like that.”
Bottom line: Inaccurate stereotypes can lead to wrongful stigma ― no matter if a person
identifies as an introvert, someone with social anxiety or both.
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