The question is, in general, when you are low on energy, which is more liable to perk you up, being alone or being with people? That's how it was explained to me.

I think this is what the prof meant. Not depressed as in clinical diagnosis, but 'down.'

My friend, J, needs people in order to recharge. She's the most classically gregarious person I've ever met.

In the convo with the prof, I realized that I was conflating 'gregarious' with friendly and outgoing. They aren't technically the same.

{{Dana}} that sucks,

Pix, you and Drew are in my thoughts.

I am definitely an introvert. Not only do I need a lot of time to recharge from social interactions but after especially people filled ones or stressful ones (good stress or bad stress), I have the sound of the voices clanging around in my head for awhile after. Like echos of conversations.

I had a weekend with my grandmother and aunt, where I had no alone time other than going to sleep/waking up, between that, the intense stressful conversations that happened, and a flare up of pain I had to take the day to recover. There was on way I could face people today.

I'd really like another few days to just be people free but Mom is coming back down Thursday. At least she's good about doing things in separate parts of the house.

I consider myself an extrovert, just one who is bad at it, I guess.

I'm so sorry, Pix. Drew, I'm just going to vibe hard that your guts heal quickly.

That does suck, Dana.

Being alone is def rechargey, but what makes D and I quite a good match is that we can be alone, together. I am upstairs on the computer or reading in bed (my preferred reading spot)and he is downstairs, TVing or computering or painting.

I'm quite savagely introverted. I can do well socially at times (and while I'm somewhat crap at it, I like people), but it's always draining. If I'm out at a restaurant or a perty or such like, sooner or later I will disappear and turn the toilet cubicle into my Fortress of Solitude.

Except with Wallybee. She's pretty much the only person whose company recharges me. (Still not allowed in my Fortress of Solitude though.)

The DH and I are pretty much always in the same room while at home, except for the 45 minutes each night while he sits out back and smokes a cigar and I take a bath and read. But he doesn't count as "people" to me. He's home.

I'm perfectly happy being a hermit at home. But once out with folks, I stay a long time. But then, recharge time.

This is me - I am a textbook introvert, but when I'm out with people, I can close down a bar. Part of this is that I'm almost *never* out with people, so on the rare occasions when I do venture out to seek the company of the Other Humans, my batteries are fully charged.

(Adult humans, that is. Nothing like spending most of your time with a three year-old to turn an introvert into a company-craving social maniac. I don't care how drained I am, if you want to have a conversation with me using complete sentences and not about how much you don't want to poop in the potty? PLEASE DEAR GOD LET'S HANG OUT RIGHT NOW WE CAN GO TO A PLACE WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ALSO ARE THERE AND TALKING TOO.)

Elsewhere on the internets (OMG! I KNOW!)

Else...where???

It's like your shields in a video game -- you have a certain number of hit points you can take (or other humans or units of interaction or stresses or embarrassments or whatever) before your defense goes critical and you have to withdraw to repair/recharge/whatev. And the thing is, some people can have pretty badass shields and go in swinging and not really care, and even really truly *like* the interaction, but when they reach that point, gotta make repairs. And some people don't have a lot of defense at all, but they're good at picking their tactics and engagements and make it through. And... okay, I'm a big dork, am'n't I?

I less than three this SO MUCH.

I should probably meet some people and get some friends here in Pennsylvania. I'm not sure if I know how to meet people.

Hil, I wish I had some advice for you but I suck at making friends. The only new friends I have made since moving here are friends of the friends I already had here.

Christ, I am freaking out so hard but have to like, not show it to Tom and others. But I just want to curl up in a ball and punch myself in the face for doing something so stupid.

Also, Dana, that sucks donkey balls. I'm sorry.

Also also, continued ~ma for Drew and Pix. This is just a total nightmare for you guys, and I'm sorry.