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If you keep asking a fish to climb a tree, it will always feel stupid
How introverts and highly sensitive people are forced to adapt in an extrovert-driven world
What’s going on in the introvert’s brain?
Did you know that the brains of introverts respond differently to stimuli than those of extroverts? They need less dopamine — a chemical in your brain that helps you take action and feel motivated.
With introverts, the system fills up quite quickly. Too much dopamine can then cause restlessness or overstimulation. But if they get too little of it, they feel a bit flat or gloomy. So it’s all about a fine balance.
Fortunately, there is a second substance that works well for introverts: acetylcholine. This ensures a calm alertness. You feel calm but focused. Think about how you feel when you read a book, take a walk, or sit quietly drawing.
There is also a difference in how stimuli are processed in the brain.
For introverts, information takes a somewhat longer route through their heads: it goes through areas involved in thinking, planning, and self-reflection.
Extroverts, on the other hand, go faster and more directly to the sensory areas, such as hearing, seeing, and feeling. So their…
