I do, often I'll feel drained, like it took all the energy out of me. I'm around a lot of people at work all day, so I'm usually too zapped of energy by the end of the day to go anywhere but straight home

 

Welcome to the site, BangTheDrum!

Well, it could be considered somewhat normal to have a let down. The only concern is that it lasts 48 hours? That's a long time.

 

I do this as well, the post socializing critique. Regardless of whether things go well putting that much mental energy into controlling physical symptoms while engaging people takes a lot out a of you. And then the post socializing critique compounds that feeling of drain, it's a vicious cycle indeed

 

I have that too. I feel drained. I also go over everything I said and analyze it. I also think of things I could have added to the conversation.

 

I do exactly the same. Things I couldve said differently, better, even sometimes doubt the tone and sound of what I said. Ugh.

 

I call it "post-party depression." It sucks.

 

I usually get bummed because I want more.

 

I took over analyze my words and actions long after an event, constantly pressing myself to think that I did something wrong or asking myself if everything I said was ok and not strange.

 

Me too!

 

I feel burn out but, not from socializing.I actually had allot of fun socializing today.I went to the bike polo world championship today just because I was curious.I forced myself to interact with others there.Their were people from every city in the US and many countries.I even got into a conversation with the German team;who knew no English at all,I struggled to perfectly understand them because they speak German much faster then me and some of their words sounded like other words but,it was nice to teach them some English,even they felt as awkward as me.Me because of SA,them because of not knowing any English.Now the big part of my day,---I meet a very cute girl there who plays the sport and she explained to me the rules,and all the different places she been to playing bike polo.Anyway,she is here for another week and asked me to take her around to see the sites;so I'm officially going on a date.Everyone cross their fingers for me that things work out.She lives in LA so,I don't think their is any possibility of any long term relationship.I will be meeting her again tomorrow for day two of the championship.

 

I feel bad about it occasionally. If I feel that I even did something just slightly stupid, I get mad at myself. I eventually forget about it after obsessing over it a while.
I'm mostly kind of happy after social situations though. That does make me want to be more social and hang out with people more.

 

I usually feel bad after socializing, too. I feel like either a sell-out (because I've had to change myself a bit to be socially acceptable) or an awkward, frigging weirdo.

 

Typically, I mope about regretting everything I said or didn't say and beat myself up over it. Even if nothing happened and it went fine.

 

I never feel like they experiences worth it so I keep losing my motivation to try…and even if it was good, the good times are so few and far between that it almost isn't worth it at all.

This is my problem, too. Actually your whole post describes me perfectly. :-/

 

Yeah I get really drained and tired too. After talking to people for a while I usually just feel like sleeping.

 

I have a group of friends who like to play games for hours. After a few hours, I'm ready to go, but I stay. I am no good as a game player at this point. I daydream, I can't follow the conversation, I finally get to a point where I say, "ok. I need a break from all this socializing" and I say my goodbyes. My friends are fine with that.

After a social outing I come home and hide and sleep and try to recover.

 

It's because my anxiety makes my brain work twice as hard so i end up exhausted. being social comes naturally to other people but with social anxiety it's so difficult.

 

After most interaction I go over everything, assume what others may have thought etc... Good or bad the circular after thought process is a real downer.

 

Socializing is like exercising, exhausting.

You are exercising your mind in this case, kinda. Since as SA-sufferer you want to check every single detail of what you are doing and make sure it doesn't turn you into an idiot/or w/e. That adds up after some time.

 

My brain is usually fried after being social. All I want to do is just sleep.

 

Yes, even when it's with people I like. It's one of the things that convinced me I have a problem.

 

Most of us or many of us are introverts

We naturally don't derive energy from social interaction as much as being alone with our own thoughts. I personally like to have some social interaction but not on a daily basis. I think it is hard to find the right balance. I don't like to be completely isolated.

Article about Caring for your Introvert
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraversion_and_introversion

Extroverts (also spelled extraverts[1]) tend to be gregarious, assertive, and interested in seeking out excitement. Introverts, in contrast, tend to be more reserved, less outgoing, but are also marked by a richer inner world. They are not necessarily loners but they tend to have smaller circles of friends and are less likely to thrive on making new social contacts. Introverts are less likely to seek stimulation from others because their own thoughts and imagination are stimulating enough.

The terms introversion and extroversion were first popularized by Carl Jung.[2] Virtually all comprehensive models of personality include these concepts. Examples include Jung's Analytical psychology, Eysenck's three-factor model, Cattell's 16 personality factors, the Big Five personality traits, the Four Temperaments, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and Socionics.

Extroversion and introversion are generally understood as a single continuum. Thus, to be high on one is necessarily to be low on the other. While extreme introverts and extroverts are a psychological reality,[3][4] most people fluctuate between the two poles throughout their lives.

It is asserted that Americans live in an "extroverted society"[5] that rewards extrovert behavior and rejects introversion. "American culture values extroverted qualities more, and people often feel like they've been given the 'short end of the stick' after receiving their results on extroversion/introversion tests."[6]

 

We naturally don't derive energy from social interaction as much as being alone with our own thoughts. I personally like to have some social interaction but not on a daily basis. I think it is hard to find the right balance. I don't like to be completely isolated.

Article about Caring for your Introvert
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraversion_and_introversion

Extroverts (also spelled extraverts[1]) tend to be gregarious, assertive, and interested in seeking out excitement. Introverts, in contrast, tend to be more reserved, less outgoing, but are also marked by a richer inner world. They are not necessarily loners but they tend to have smaller circles of friends and are less likely to thrive on making new social contacts. Introverts are less likely to seek stimulation from others because their own thoughts and imagination are stimulating enough.

The terms introversion and extroversion were first popularized by Carl Jung.[2] Virtually all comprehensive models of personality include these concepts. Examples include Jung's Analytical psychology, Eysenck's three-factor model, Cattell's 16 personality factors, the Big Five personality traits, the Four Temperaments, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and Socionics.

Extroversion and introversion are generally understood as a single continuum. Thus, to be high on one is necessarily to be low on the other. While extreme introverts and extroverts are a psychological reality,[3][4] most people fluctuate between the two poles throughout their lives.

It is asserted that Americans live in an "extroverted society"[5] that rewards extrovert behavior and rejects introversion. "American culture values extroverted qualities more, and people often feel like they've been given the 'short end of the stick' after receiving their results on extroversion/introversion tests."[6]

Diane Sawyer describes herself as an introvert, fascinating, she can interview and ancoor and socialize but likes quiet and to be alone with her interests.

 

I feel totally exhausted after going being out in public. Just the simple act of eating out at a restaurant (like I did last night) drains me. I also beat myself up for not saying things I should have said, and saying things I probably shouldn't have.

 

A big reason why I don't work full time is because I'd rather have energy for my family and myself than for an employer. Frankly, I would lose my mind, at least that is what I envision when I think about working full time. I wish I could cope better.

 

But do you guys want to socialize even less after you've beaten yourself up after the fact? I feel SO stupid and inadequate -- I talked too much, I didn't ask them enough about them, I revealed too much about me -- it's horrible! I went to church today and beat myself up because one woman I was talking to (who came to the church after me) had all these people coming up and hugging her and felt like some felt obligated to hug me too or they just barely said hi. It really makes me hate life...because I hate being around people far more than I feel good about myself.

 

Oh man does it feel good to know that I am not alone! I always feel guilty/bad after having an amazing time with friends. I spend at least 24 hours with the entire night replaying in my head, and going over every mistake I made, and what I could have done better, or differently. I also feel depressed, and drained.