So how do I know the founder of Business Networking International is an introvert? And what if he doesn’t find out about this proposed classification of introversion as a mental disorder? I’ve both been a member of BNI as well as know he is only recently a self-professed introvert. When one of my Google alerts uncovered that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) is considering including introversion as a criteria for diagnosing mental disorders in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders my curiosity took me to Nancy Ancowitz’s blogpost.
Nancy Ancowitz’s, business communication coach and author of Self-Promotion for Introverts, blog post Are Introverts Nuts? unleashed a passionate side of me and I hope it will you as well, particularly if you tend toward being an introvert. It didn’t make me nuts because I’m not nuts. People call me many things but never nuts. Granted I was concerned so didn’t proof much, disregarded their due date for comments and emailed the APA:
Dear APA decision makers on the proposed definition of introversion:
You stated this on your website:
Definition: Withdrawal from other people, ranging from intimate relationships to the world at large; restricted affective experience and expression; limited hedonic capacity
Social withdrawal Preference for being alone to being with others; reticence in social situations; avoidance of social contacts and activity; lack of initiation of social contact
Social detachment Indifference to or disinterest in local and worldly affairs; disinterest in social contacts and activity; interpersonal distance; having only impersonal relations and being taciturn with others (e.g., solely goal- or task-oriented interactions)
Intimacy avoidance Disinterest in and avoidance of close relationships, interpersonal attachments, and intimate sexual relationships
Restricted affectivity Lack of emotional experience and display; emotional reactions, when evident, are shallow and transitory; unemotional, even in normally emotionally arousing situations
Anhedonia Lack of enjoyment from, engagement in, or energy for life’s experiences; deficit in the capacity to feel pleasure or take interest in things
What on EARTH are you making introversion a mental disorder for? Have you read the same research I have read? Have you talked with noted authorities about introverts, including myself?
This from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/self-promotion-introverts/201004/are-introverts-nuts :
Laurie Helgoe, Ph.D. <https://www.wakingdesire.com/bio.htm> , clinical psychologist and author of Introvert Power about this: “If an introvert is clinically depressed,” she says, “that’s a problem.” She adds, “If an introvert is debilitated by anxiety <https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/anxiety> , that is a problem. If an introvert suffers from a social phobia <https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/social-phobia> , that is a problem. But if an introvert is simply an introvert, please don’t render that person ill. We are talking half the population here!”
Your premise is going to strengthen the negative myths about introverts everywhere.
I’m attaching my eBook, some places which quote research. This is a product I sell so I know you will respect that when you read it and not distribute it at well.
We are NOT SOCIALLY withdrawn. We must take time to recharge and reenergize. We’re not anti-social we just don’t do it the same way extroverts do.
We are NOT SOCIALLY DETACHED. We are out in the world networking for business and life. We are hosting small, intimate dinner parties.
My goodness we are the ones who VALUE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS deeply. We take our relationships seriously.
We have DEPTH OF EMOTIONS.
We love LIFE.
Please do not set us back yet again with such a negative description which is in NO way true. Please do not undo the advances take my this group of people and more.
Revisit your definition.
Then I felt compelled to let them know there are dozens of us active in the world in the past few years strengthening the introvert image. Here is a list of some of us from a blog post I did in 2009:
1. Adam McHugh, Introverts in the Church <https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0830837027?ie=UTF8&tag=patriciaweber&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0830837027> , I did a thorough book review <https://patricia-weber.com2009/11/book-review-introverts-in-the-church/> of it. Most of the book encourages the introvert to use their unique personality and gifts in any area of the church community. His first hand experiences; the detailed analysis of the introvert personality and his personal understandings honor and respect introverts everywhere.
2. Joanne Julius Hunold, blogs about Overwhelming Success for Solopreneurs, Wisdom and inspiration for the overwhelmed, frazzled-but-determined solo-entrepreneur (who just happens to be introverted).
3. Doris Helge, Ph.D., and I collaborated on two separate ebooks. Hers is Joy on the Job for Introverts & Shy People. She offers an accompanying free report, 11 Habits of Highly Confident Introverts & Previously Shy People!
4. R.L. LaFevers and Mary Hershey otherwise known as The Shrinking Violets, blog at https://shrinkingvioletpromotions.blogspot.com/ with a focus on marketing tips and survival strategies for introverts.
5. Wendy Gelberg, The Successful Introvert: How to Enhance Your Job Search and Advance Your Career. That about sums this one up.
6. Nancy Ancowitz, Author of Self-Promotion for Introverts : The Quiet Guide to Getting Ahead. Nancy Ancowitz is also an introvert and a business communication coach. Even though you can find an excerpt of her book, she does offer an amusing video.
7. Jennifer B. Kahnweiler, Ph.D., The Introverted Leader: Building on Your Quiet Strength. If you are thinking that because you are an introvert that you can’t be a leader, this one will change your mind forever.
8. Lee Ann Lambert, Living Introverted : Learning To Embrace The Quiet Life Without Guilt. This is a quick read, covers a broad amount of topics like the introvert at work, at home, as children, in marketing.
9. Christie has a blog at The Introvert Zone. I’m not sure why we don’t know her last name, unless it’s an extreme introversion part of her at work. The posts are always thoughtful and informative.
10. And the one I can tell you the most about is by Patricia Weber, yep that’s me, Debunking Negative Introvert Myths : Bringing Your Strengths to the Party! It’s a 92 page ebook, comes with lots of bonuses (who doesn’t like something else with their purchase and will help you let go of the introvert misconceptions by being just who you are. You can claim a 32 page excerpt of it now.
If you can, if you will, if you value your introversion, disagree with their definition or just want to weigh in on their proposal, visit the American Psychiatric Association and then email them: apa@psych.org or Tweet them, https://twitter.com/dsm5 your thoughts or opinion.
Will you do this for yourself? Will you do this for introverts everywhere?
But just who wants to tell the successful Dr. Misner that he suffers from, and I quote from the APA about their definition of introversion: “Anhedonia – Lack of enjoyment from, engagement in, or energy for life’s experiences; deficit in the capacity to feel pleasure or take interest in things.” Guess that creates a conundrum for BNI? LOL!
When I saw the APA proposal, I hit the roof–disproving one of their ideas about introverts. It was enough that I fired off a response to them laying out my shock at their plan and how it would be a step back in perception. I’m still stunned at this. Thanks for letting them know your concerns–the more voices they hear the better.
LOL. Maybe if we have enough introverts weigh in they will wake up! Thanks Chehaw.
Sad. It’s nothing personal against introverts. It’s just the APA trying to turn every single human being into a potential patient and a potential prescription drug buyer.
They’ve taken some things that yes, aren’t a good way to function such as “Lack of enjoyment from, engagement in, or energy for life’s experiences” and inappropriately piled them on to a word used in normal society to describe a normal personality preference. This isn’t the first ridiculous description they’ve come up with. Probably not the last.
Time for introverts to speak up! Or get your extrovert friends riled up on your behalf 🙂
Thank you for bringing this to a wider audience Pat.
Beth
It’s unbelievable actually. Intending that so many people hear about it the APA recognizes the error of their ways. Thanks Beth.
“When one of my Google alerts uncovered that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) is considering including introversion as a criteria for diagnosing mental disorders in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders”
Introversion already IS a criteria for diagnosing a mental disorder (Schizoid Personality Disorder); what the APA intends to do is simply to drop the label “Schizoid Personality Disorder” and replace it by “Personality Disorder with introvert traits” (or something like that).
Miguel, this understanding just furthers my disappointment. Not sure if you were trying to lessen the repurcussions or what. It’s just disgusting.
Great post and good for you for emailing the APA!
This says it all: Laurie Helgoe, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and author of Introvert Power about this: “If an introvert is clinically depressed,” she says, “that’s a problem.” She adds, “If an introvert is debilitated by anxiety, that is a problem. If an introvert suffers from a social phobia , that is a problem. But if an introvert is simply an introvert, please don’t render that person ill. We are talking half the population here!”
I would love to know how many introverts are depressed, anxious or suffer from social phobia. Based on the comments on the recent Huffington Post blog “23 Signs You’re Secretly An Introvert” it seems there may be a fair number who do and would like to see improvements in these areas. I actually blogged about it because there may be a biochemical component that can easily address the anxiety/social phobia aspect – for both introverts and extroverts.
Of course, other nutritional and biochemical factors should also be considered for both depression and anxiety: getting enough protein, eating breakfast, digestion, quitting caffeine, addressing possible gluten intolerance and low vitamin D levels, exercise and so on.
Trudy Scott, Food Mood Expert, Certified Nutritionist and author of “The Antianxiety Food Solution”
Trudy it starts of course with, it is a brain hard wired born with trait. Of course, I find your approach to introversion biochemically fascinating. Are you putting a study together? I ask that because evidence is going to speak volumes.