MAY | 2020 | ESSENTIALS

VERSUS THE ABNORMAL

Let’s be honest here, Beaux, this is fuckig with you, isn’t it? The stay at home orders, sheltering in place, and social distancing is starting to fuck with you, isn’t it? Outside of the whole having to wear gloves and a mask in public thing, your introverted friends seem to have more of a handle on this thing. Meanwhile, you’re probably about ten minutes away from completely losing your shit. Your outgoing personality has always made you the center of attention.

Your broad scope of interests ensures that you’re always somewhere doing something with someone or a group of someones, which explains why the mere thought of a social setting makes you higher than Cookie Tookie in a room full of [REDACTED]. You’ve always been told about how friendly you are, how easy you are to talk to, and praised for your invigorating presence. A party simply wasn’t a party if you weren’t there. 

The differences existing between your pre Coronavirus life and your current one is that the former found you in your element, while the latter has you questioning your existence. Your extroverted personality requires your brain to be more stimulated than the brains of your introverted friends.

Their energy isn’t dependent on social interactions with others. Yours is. Interaction is your fix, and a lack of it can lead you to feel the one thing that no introvert needs to feel, lonely. Being without company, unfrequented by family and friends, isolated from others and being forcefully divorced from the social experience leaves too much room for the devil to  play in, but there are ways to keep that room occupied in ways that don’t result in you losing your mind.

You probably wouldn’t have survived the flu pandemic of 1918, but 2020 affords you the accessibility to technology that wasn’t quite available then. The communication systems back then were as primitive as they were new, as things like CW radios were considered as technology’s cutting edge, but we’re literally light years away from those days, and that distance is what’s going to allow you to remain as social as possible. 

As much of an oxymoron the phrase ‘social distancing’ may be, it can be applied in ways essential to nurturing your extroverted nature. Facebook, Zoom, and even Instagram have features that can help you interact with others as you shelter in place. Of course none of these platforms will offer you the same feeling you get from ‘being seen’, but it’s the best you’re gonna get given the circumstances. DJ’s, musicians and celebrities alike are coping with COVID by taking to their own social media platforms to interact with their followers, and you’ve actually got an increased chance of actually interacting with one of your faves if you catch one of their lives. 

Netflix, Hulu and Amazon have done a good job in steeping their streaming game up. If you’re missing your weekly movie nights with your friends, consider engaging them in a watch party. Again, the effect is different, but a good watch party will go a long way in satisfying your inborn need to interact with the homies. The clubs are certainly closed BUT you never really needed a club to interact, did you? You just needed an opportunity. Consider spending a little time with creating a playlist or two and sharing them with your friends through the use of all this wonderful technology that’s resting at the tip of your fingers. 

The most important thing that you, as an extrovert, need to stay on top of during these times is your mental health. Some introverts aren’t really feeling the sting of staying away from others, but it's a little, no, it’s a lot different for you. Your bank account may be getting a break as the brunches, and bar hopping have come to a seemingly instant halt, but your mental health is probably on the decline. The stress of not knowing how long this will last can not only lead to anxiety, but to depression, boredom, frustration and irritability as well.

While it's always important for you to be mindful of these things under normal circumstances, it’s especially important now. You want to make sure that you have someone to talk to about the impact that this lock down is having on you, because believe it or not, you’re not the only extrovert going through this.

Now is definitely the time to use those health benefits to secure a therapist, and if you’re currently without, then your best option is going to be to reach out to the most patient of your friends.  

These are challenging times for us all, but it's not something you can’t or won’t overcome. It's easy to understand how difficult staying in can be for someone as outgoing as you are, but there are ways to manage. Do your best to engage your friends and family in the virtual world. The technology exists and it’ll be in your best interest to use it. Netflix has unlocked features that allow you to watch anything available on their platform, and it’s actually worth the effort of installing it.

 Guard your mental health at all times, and remember that sheltering in place doesn’t mean that you have to stay indoors. You can always venture out for a walk, just as long as you’re practicing social distancing. Don’t be afraid to reach out when necessary to your friends, family, and therapist, if available and when needed, as their support will be needed as you seek to endure life doing the exact opposite of what you’re used to doing. You’re not alone in your frustration, and it is perfectly normal to feel abnormal in situations that are not normal, and this is definitely a situation that’s not normal.  Social distancing has become a sign of the times.

You and almost every other extrovert on the planet, are coping well considering the circumstances. Lord only knows how much longer any of this will last, because the hope of reestablishing yourself as the center of whatever party you attend requires that the actual party can legally occur. In the meantime, use this time to connect with your friends and family in the virtual realm, as it will be the best defense against COVID’s offensive strife.