I’m shy and definitely introverted. So, I really get it when I meet someone who’s the same.
What I’ve discovered over my lifetime is that a shy and introverted personality can be a blessing and a curse.
Being a self-confessed introvert, I understand what it’s like to be uncomfortable in crowds. Overwhelm happens quickly.
Help could be a lab test away!
Being socially shy is a symptom recognised with a type of anxiety brought about by a genetic condition call Pyrroluria. This is sometimes called high mauve, pyrrole disorder or kryptopyrrole. Signs of this condition include feelings of social inadequacy, avoidance of crowds, inner tension, and bouts of depression, along with other physical symptoms.
People with pyrrole disorder experience different degrees of unexplained anxiety or fear. These feelings can begin when they are quite young. And, they learn to socially cope by covering it up.
What’s happening on the inside
If you have this condition, you produce an excessive amount of a metabolite known as a pyrrole. Excessive pyrroles bind to the nutrients zinc, biotin and B6, stopping these valuable nutrients from reaching areas in your body where they are needed for certain biochemical actions.
An important function that can be inhibited by pyrroles is adequate production of some of the neurotransmitters in your brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that allow brain cells to communicate with each other, and have a direct effect on our mood, behaviour and personality.
Three main neurotransmitters affected are:
- serotonin – our “happy” neurotransmitter
- dopamine -our “pleasure and reward” neurotransmitter
- GABA – our “calm and relaxed” neurotransmitter
These all require zinc and/or B6 for production.
The Good News
Symptoms can be relieved quickly by taking supplements such as zinc, B6 and biotin. Supplementation with these nutrients help to reduce your pyrrole levels and reduce severity of symptoms.
What To Do if You Are Socially Shy
- Have a Pyrrole test – a simple urine test through a laboratory is used to determine if you have this condition.
- Keep your stress levels under control – when you have high levels of stress, B6 and zinc will be depleted even further. Not only will your anxiety levels increase, but other symptoms will worsen.
- Eat nutritious food – eat whole foods that are high in nutrients to give your body what it needs
- Fix your gut – if you have a digestive system that’s not up to scratch, sort it out. Not only will you be able to break down and absorb all those great nutrients your body needs, but you will feel amazing without the bloating, pain, reflux and other nasty symptoms of a sub-optimum digestive system.
With your health in mind,
Catherine
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