I get what you’re saying about some people’s energy. You can really feel a difference between the givers and the takers. I’m an introvert (or possibly ambivert) and I feel exactly how you do about being forced to interact with strangers. I’m great in front of a crowd and definitely appear extroverted online, but like Kristen, too much IRL interaction, especially with those I don’t know will put me in a coma.

Put me in a room of strangers and force me to interact one-on-one?

You gotta be shitting me. Not just no, but hell no.

I found out I actually fit the Highly Sensitive Person profile to a T. If I’m in a group of people I know, especially if I know them well, they think I talk peoples’ ears off. But you put me in a group of strangers and it’s all I can do not to crawl under the table and hide. Online, people think I’m very outgoing and extroverted. But it’s only because I can control the when, how much, etc. of the contact. Too much social interaction of the “wrong” kind can totally drain me to the point of physical exhaustion. I need time to retreat and recharge my batteries. But an evening with good friends who I feel totally comfortable with, who I know well and who know me well, that can almost recharge me in a way, too.

I know some people don’t believe in feeling energy (so feel free to skip this part LOL) but I also have that problem. Some people, their energy hits me just “wrong” and it’s like a massive blinking warning signal. If I’m with Hubby, or with Sir, literally using them as a ground, it’s not nearly as bad.