Finding love, regardless of whether or not you are an introvert, is hard to say the least. It can be down right exhausting, and can wear anyone out. Unfortunately for an introvert, this task is even more daunting and demanding.

1. You have to be in the right state of mind.

As an introvert, you have to be in the right mood to go on a date, or to go up to a stranger. You have to be the perfect mix of calm, collected and also excited. It is a rare occasion when you are in the perfect state of mind to do this.

2. You have to constantly recharge.

After a night out with friends, you have to spend the next day recuperating. After spending time alone for a while, you can recharge and muster the energy to meet new people. But, it takes a lot for you to give up alone time for someone you have never met yet.

3. You aren’t too great at small talk.

Small talk is your own personal hell. You feel incredibly awkward on first dates in the first place, and knowing small talk will take up most of that time, terrifies you. Nothing about small talk is fun or exciting for you.

4. You aren’t going to go on a date with just anyone.

For you to actually go on a date, you already have to have a connection with this person. They have to be truly special for you to even consider seeing them. You aren’t picky or a snob, you just don’t want to waste your time on anyone that you don’t see yourself having a future with.

5. You will easily be misunderstood.

People see silence as being rude or conceited. If you are online dating and don’t give a response to someone after they ask you a question, it’s not because you don’t want to respond, it’s only because it takes you awhile to come up with what you want to say next. You will most definitely be misunderstood in the dating world, even though you never mean to come off as being a cold person.

6. You overthink everything.

You overthink everything when it comes to dating. You play conversations over in your head, and obsess over how you think the date went, and if you think the other person liked you or not. Overthinking is exhausting, and you would rather be alone with your dog than to ever obsess over a person you just met.

7. You always want to cancel plans.

So, you make a plan and get all jazzed up about it, until the day actually comes. You immediately are overcome with a massive amount of anxiety that just makes you want to take a nap. You always without fail cancel and tell them you are sick. You aren’t trying to be mean, but you really, really don’t want to go anymore.

8. You don’t speak up for yourself.

As an introvert, sometimes you don’t speak up for yourself when necessary. It’s hard for you to be vocal when you hardly know someone, and you would rather just stay silent and forget it even happened.

9. You don’t do well in crowded places.

A lot of first dates takes place at crowded bars and parties. This is NOT your thing at all, and it gives you a headache even thinking about it. The solution? You don’t even attempt to go on dates now.

10. You spend hours thinking of perfect responses to every question.

Introverts are over-thinkers. They have a lot of insecurities about their own first impressions and fret about nearly everything when it comes to their love life. They never want to make the wrong move or say the wrong thing, so they spend hours coming up with perfect responses and witty jokes. It takes way too long for a conversation to begin with them, and even longer for their conversations to take flight.