CapedBaldy:
I'm an introvert and I don't really like living like this. I find it hard to start conversations with people and even when people try talking to me I can't hold a conversation. I wasn't always like this though I was quite extroverted as a kid and I was really popular in school. I only changed during my teens. I'm turning 19 this year and I want to get rid of this introversion. I've managed to make about 2 new friends but I don't really know them and they don't really know me. all we do is talk about anime and it doesn't really go past that. So, if you were an introvert at a point in your life please tell me how you were able to overcome it and start opening up. I don't want to feel insecure anymore.

You hardly get past introversion, I'm talking from my own experience.

I have been an introvert all my life but I learnt to develop a second persona which I mainly use (have been using since 2015). Many a time, I get exhausted by being all mixed with extroverts for an extended period of time.

I recommend that you read Susan Cain's 'Quiet', it helped me understand why I had to continue using my dualistic personas, the extroverted person to float through social spaces and my introverted self to define my life and all that concerns me.

Hope you get past this conflicting phase of your life.

.