• Question: Can your mental health determine if you are an introvert/extrovert?

    Asked by anon-216756 to Robert, Dennis on 15 Jun 2019.
    • Photo: Robert Dempsey

      Robert Dempsey answered on 15 Jun 2019:

      That’s an interesting question, I’m not sure if mental health does effect personality in that way especially when you look at extroversion/introversion. I know that people with bipolar diagnoses tend to score more highly on extroversion but I’m not sure what causes what in this relationship (some aspects of bipolar, especially hypomania/mania, are similar to extroversion in that people are more outgoing, have energy and are goal-focused in their behaviour). People who are more neurotic in their personality seem to be more vulnerable to depression and anxiety, but again I’m not sure that it’s as simple as personality causing mental health issues or the other way around (could be a bit of both?).

    • Photo: Dennis Relojo-Howell

      Dennis Relojo-Howell answered on 15 Jun 2019:

      I think that both introverts and extroverts can both suffer from mental health issues. It might be possible that because you’re an introvert you’re likely to develop depression – isolation is known to contribute depression.

      I’m an introvert, but fortunately, I have not been diagnosed of any mental health issue.

Comments