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Being an introvert can be challenging. Because they prefer quiet or alone time, some introverts can seem cold, aloof, or even antisocial to others that are more extroverted in nature.

"Being heard can be difficult; we need time to formulate our thoughts and are often talked over and through," Dembling said. "We also often take heat for our introversion, particularly young people. Kids are chastised if they would rather sit home with a book than go out and play with friends, and the party culture of college can be trying for introverts, who might even find themselves drinking too much in order to keep up with social demands."

To make their lives easier, Dembling thinks introverts should take control of their socialization and do things they enjoy with people they enjoy rather than allowing themselves to always wait for invitations (which are often extended by extroverts to do extroverted things).

"Figure out what you like to do and do the uncomfortable thing by extending invitations and you might find yourself enjoying people more," she suggested. "Also, the only way I can get myself to go to parties is if I promise myself that I can leave any time I want. Don't let anyone tell you the party will just fall to pieces if you leave; it won’t, and if you let yourself leave when you’re ready, you will find it a lot easier to say yes the next time."

If you need any encouragement, keep in mind that you don't need to reinvent yourself to connect to other people. "Contrary to common belief, introverts are no less skilled than extroverts in socializing," Seltzer said.

"In fact, because they're better listeners than extroverts and think first about what they're going to say before saying it—vs. extroverts, who need to discover what they think about something by first circling around it—as often as not, extroverts can learn as much about effective socializing from introverts as the reverse."

The bottom line is that there's nothing wrong with the fact that you're an introvert. Or an extrovert, for that matter.

"The brain's reticular activating system determines whether one leans toward introversion or extroversion, and it's not anything that can change or needs to change," Seltzer added. "As a therapist, I've had people come to me to help me change them from an introvert to its opposite, and my response is that I can't do that, but I can help them to accept—and even celebrate—their introversion, which is not a defect."

"If they do need to develop better social skills, I can help them achieve that, but it won't change their inborn disposition to find introverted thinking and activity more congenial than what's 'natural' to their extroverted counterparts. Nor should it be," the psychologist explained.