11 Signs an Introvert is Angry with You
By
OptimistMinds
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Author bio
The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.
Hey Optimist Minds!
People who are reserved or shy to be their authentic selves in front of others are also referred to as introverts. They prefer being alone and only open up about themselves to a selected few.
Introverts don’t typically express themselves that often so it can be hard to gauge what they’re feeling. Even when they’re feeling anger, they usually don’t show aggression. Because of that, if an introvert is mad at you, you probably won’t notice unless you pay attention.
In this video, we’re going to discuss eleven signs an introvert is angry with you. This information can help you improve your relationships with introverts by understanding their behaviour.
However, it’s important to note that not all introverts behave in these ways every time they are angry and if they do, the reason may not always be anger.
Now, let’s begin.
One
They’ve minimised communication.
The first sign of an introvert’s anger is typically a decrease in communication. Maybe they don’t talk much anymore and only give monosyllabic replies. The reduced interaction will be obvious in all situations, whether you’re meeting in person, talking on the phone, or texting.
Two
They’re acting formally.
Any exchanges that do occur with the angry introvert will suddenly feel more formal. If you know them professionally, they might prefer to stick to email. Otherwise, they’ll only engage if either of you needs something from the other. These conversations would involve minimal eye contact and a physical distance from each other.
Three
They’re taking their anger out on objects.
When you’re in close proximity to an introvert who is angry, you might observe them being visibly aggressive with inanimate things. They may do everyday activities like closing a door, typing on a keyboard, or placing items on a surface louder than usual.
Four
They use work as an escape.
If you know an introvert personally and you piss them off, they will use work as an excuse to not be around you. They might even take up extra tasks at the office as a way of channelling their anger. When you confront them about the conflict, they might say that they’re too busy to talk about it.
Five
Instead of fighting, they’re avoiding you.
Most introverts detest the idea of having multiple conversations to address a conflict. They’d rather keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves and avoid situations that encourage communication. You might observe them going out of their way to steer clear of you.
Six
They want to isolate themselves.
At times when introverts get overwhelmed by their anger, they socially withdraw themselves. They prefer to spend some time alone to reflect on the entire situation. So, if they’re really angry with you, not only will they avoid you, but they’ll also stop interacting with other people.
Seven
They’re pretending everything is fine.
Another common anger response in introverts is to sweep everything under the carpet and act as if nothing happened. They don’t do this with the intention to hurt or manipulate you. Not talking about personal feelings is in their comfort zone. So, by pretending this way, introverts skip the hassle of having to engage.
Eight
They’re expressing apathy.
Sometimes, when introverts don’t want to put in any more effort into processing their anger and doing something about it, they might say they don’t care anymore. This apathy is superficial because they’re only ignoring their emotions. Nevertheless, to an outsider, it’ll seem like they’ve stopped caring.
Nine
They won’t take help from you.
Many introverts express anger with apparent independence. They try to make it look like they don’t need your assistance for anything anymore. You might be offering them help in moments of genuine need and yet, they’re likely to reject your offer.
Ten
They bottle up their anger.
When it comes to dealing with anger, a lot of introverts struggle to break free of unhealthy patterns. They develop the habit of suppressing any feelings of anger through distractions and other coping mechanisms, without actually facing it. Naturally, if this continues for long enough, anyone is bound to have an unpredictable outburst.
Eleven
Small setbacks piss them off.
Once an introvert is annoyed, they’ll start getting irritated by the simplest of problems. You might hear them sigh, scoff, and grumble more frequently and impatiently. Angry introverts often choose passive-aggressive responses when they’re so upset.
Did any of the scenarios described here seem familiar to you? Do you think an introvert might be angry at you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
A link for further reading and the studies & references used in the making of this video are mentioned in the description below.
Thanks for visiting optimist minds, take care. Until next time.
References
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02699930050156618
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02699930341000103
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886918302447
- https://ro.ecu.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://scholar.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=2150&context=theses_hons