I'm really, really newly out to myself (August 5th - a date I'll always remember).

I notice that I'm becoming more open to myself, which is making me more open to other people. How far can this go? Has anyone shifted from being an introvert to being more of an extrovert? I don't know that I'd switch completely - I've been INTJ for all my life thus far. I've also been presenting male all my life thus far.

p.s. (If you did make that change, did you notice people are unaccepting of your new extroversion?  )

I went from from being a tight lipped introvert to nearly extrovert. A big reason for the change I believe is the astronomical growth of my self-esteem upon loosing much of the shame and guilt I carried for years. THat it OK for me to be me and not have to live up to this idealized facade of a person

Quote from: JoanneB on August 24, 2013, 07:07:57 AM
I went from from being a tight lipped introvert to nearly extrovert. A big reason for the change I believe is the astronomical growth of my self-esteem upon loosing much of the shame and guilt I carried for years. THat it OK for me to be me and not have to live up to this idealized facade of a person

It's new to me... but I just feel the walls breaking down. How could I be outgoing if I might accidentally let something out?
No idea how far it will go... it's less than a month and very few people are in the know yet... but I already feel more open, even with people who don't know. There are a few I'd love for them to guess (*and* be OK with it, I suppose ).

I also wonder (in a good way, not an anxious one) how much change people see in me. I'm certain they attribute it to my massive and quick weight loss...

Loving life... even the bad parts right now! 

Quote from: -Emily- on August 24, 2013, 08:46:15 AM
I would say that Your inner mental barriers are going down now. Did You had the period of denial, when You tried to pursue the male life with all the consequences? When I was a kid, I was very open, friendly and emotional - everyone considered me to be extremely extrovert with a strong hint of hyperactivity. Then, when my puberty ended - and it ended not in the way I was hoping for (some things did not magically dissolve and I did not get a pair of bewbs) - it made me shut down emotionally and I shifted towards the introvert type. I had no issues with communications and such, but I felt that I became a different person - someone I did not like but at the same time was being sort of sickly proud of (it is quite complicated and very messed up... I am glad it has been left behind).
After I just came in terms with my true self, the glaciers started to melt and the HRT just sped the things up I moved back towards my extrovert personality and I am really happy about it now . It is just the true me and although at times I am a bit slower because of my Northern mentality, but in general I am very sociable, open, easy-going, fun-loving and friendly person - ESFP according to the MBTI personality type - and very proud of that .

I have a feeling I'm still an introvert, and will still be... but hopefully a much more open and fun one than when I put my barriers up. I'm pretty sure I was one pre-puberty too.

I can relate to what Joanna said.  I was also very introverted and shy (and very quiet).  But after transitioning and being true to myself, my self-esteem and confidence has skyrocketed.  It was this shift that made me feel better about expressing myself, and not being so shy and quiet because I was afraid how revealing anything about my true feelings inside. 

My personality is changing. I used to show very little of myself because it didn't match how I appeared. I'm a lot more open now as a woman.

Quote from: JoanneB on August 24, 2013, 07:07:57 AM
I went from from being a tight lipped introvert to nearly extrovert. A big reason for the change I believe is the astronomical growth of my self-esteem upon loosing much of the shame and guilt I carried for years. THat it OK for me to be me and not have to live up to this idealized facade of a person

Yes, yes, YES!
I was severely introvert, eventually diagnosed Asperger - like so many of us here.  I only took part in any sort of social activity if I felt I couldn't avoid it.  Now I'm quite active, and volunteer with a charity that does social work with lonely and vulnerable people.  I didn't think of shame and guilt really, just being "wrong".  Now I know who I am and I'm confident in myself.

So, are you likely to change to extrovert?  It's possible it could go that far, but don't worry, just be happy you are now who you were meant to be.

My family and the church I used to belong to threw me out very promptly, so the question of intro/extro didn't come into question.  The church I now belong to seem to have taken to me and I've just been asked to take over as the Christian Aid coordinator.  A few months ago there was a mix-up about the person leading the singing, and after a good look around the church, the organist came to me and said "Mary, you are in the choir.  Will you lead the singing?"  It's the sort of church that doesn't bat an eyelid at a woman leading the singing with a bass voice!

I have seen the same thing (hope it's okay for a boy to pop in). I've had a lot of social anxiety and I seemed very introverted. Only with 1-2 friends I would be different. They found me to be extroverted and silly. Since I've come out everyone has noticed the difference. I went to a party and everyone was complementing me on how good I looked because I was so much more confident. Even my therapist feels the difference and he's totally suprised :p

Not quite the same, but sounds similar to my own situation.  If you're interested I posted about it here:

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,147199.msg1210108.html#msg1210108

Being an introvert has nothing to do with self-esteem or happiness or what have you... it's just whether you get your energy from being around other people or being alone. I'm generally a happy person (mental illness aside) and love being around other people, but socialization is just exhausting, and the only way I can recharge after a big day with others is to spend the next one--or several!--completely to myself. This didn't change after I told my husband and my friends, and I highly doubt it would change if I told everyone.

Lo, you're right. I'll never be a real extrovert, what I personally meant is that I've gone from social anxiety and shyness to being more outgoing and clearly more confident being me. I still need my time alone, and as you pointed out ,outside working with children, I get my energy from the quiet moments alone or one-on-one.

I am an introvert, quiet, and unassuming. Prefer doing things that way.

Quote from: NathanielM on August 26, 2013, 03:13:21 PM
Lo, you're right. I'll never be a real extrovert, what I personally meant is that I've gone from social anxiety and shyness to being more outgoing and clearly more confident being me. I still need my time alone, and as you pointed out ,outside working with children, I get my energy from the quiet moments alone or one-on-one.

I see. I used to have crippling social anxiety and be much quieter than I am now. Discovering my trans identity and presenting more congruently isn't the thing that changed that, I'm afraid... It just happened one day for me :0. But. Who knows, maybe I will become even more outgoing after making it further along?

Quote from: Glitterfly on August 26, 2013, 07:07:38 PM
I/E isn't something that's fixed for life, it can change (many times). maybe one day you'll be a real extrovert! and maybe not. time will tell ^^

I've never heard of it changing for anyone I know? I'm pretty sure its just how we're wired and nothing really changes that..

i have no hopes of coming out making me into an extrovert. i kind of enjoy my own company, and already feel that even just the fixed tv is a very unwelcome guest. i love my daughter, but i wish she'd go to bed when i tell her to, and not come back to bother me for the next hour because of this and that and everything, because it either cuts down on my alone time or my sleep time, and both are equally bad for me.

peace and quiet are what i need to recharge. i love work and being with other people. i'm energetic and outgoing when social anxiety or depression don't get the best of me. but at the end of the day, i need peace and quiet in order to recharge for yet another day of fun at work.

i hope that i can find a way to partially transition and being more out, closer to who i really am, but i doubt it will make me into an extrovert. i can't even imagine it happening. but i do hope it will help lessen my anxiety and depressions. with that, every day would be a good day, and it would hopefully cost me less to be social for extended periods of time. needing a whole week of quiet afternoons just to recover is a little much.

Quote from: Glitterfly on August 27, 2013, 01:03:59 PM
There are a lot more people in the world than the ones you know... ^^ it can change, I've felt it change even in me even according to the season or life situation... I just can't for the life of me see it as something fixed I think it depends on the person like everything

might be the same as with gender. for some it's fixed, for others it's fluid?