Quarantine Made Me An Extrovert

All it took was social isolation for an Introvert to turn into an Extrovert.

Dr Saniya Aamir

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Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash

The quarantine has lasted more than any of us could have anticipated.

Even though the first month was a source of relaxation for most of us, presenting itself a long weekend — or an early summer break.

But at this point, we are like the kid during the last few days of his summer break agitated and desperate to go back to school to meet his friends. In summary, we all are way past our summer break.

3 months in the quarantine, I am not sure if I am lonely or just bored?

According to Wikipedia, The definition of Loneliness is:

Loneliness is an unpleasant emotional response to perceived isolation. Loneliness is also described as social pain — a psychological mechanism that motivates individuals to seek social connections.

While that of Boredom is:

Boredom is a condition characterized by the perception of one’s environment as dull, tedious, and lacking in stimulation. This can result from leisure and a lack of aesthetic interests.

Reading these definitions I realize, I am not lonely as I am always surrounded by my family, neither am I bored as my days are a mixture of house chores, cleaning, painting with my mom.

So why is it that I am constantly online, eagerly waiting for social interaction from someone?

Being an introvert by nature, I have always enjoyed the solitude. I love having my room to myself, I love spending a few hours of the day away from everyone else and enjoying my ‘me’ time.

I am also one of those weirdos who get happy when plans get canceled, think twice before picking up a call as I would rather text and go home early from social gatherings.

So why is it, now that I have my space and solitude I couldn’t wait to go outside. Even if it is a random party — I am willing to attend it, an unknown group of people chatting on the side of the road somewhere — I am ready to join the conversation or student filled lecture hall in my university — I would gladly attend that lecture again.

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Dr Saniya Aamir

Just a dentist trying to make dental care more accessible… one article at a time