I call myself introverted but what if I'm just depressed? Analyze my social patterns: do I genuinely prefer alone time or am I isolating? Do I recharge solo or am I avoiding? Do people drain me or do I just not have energy for anything? Then expose the difference: introversion (people drain my social battery but I can recharge and engage) vs. depression (I have no energy for anything, I'm isolating, and I've lost interest in connection). Map my social history: was I always "introverted" or did this start when something else changed (job loss, breakup, trauma, pandemic)? Show me the signs: if I'm avoiding all social contact, feeling no joy in formerly enjoyable social situations, and never feel recharged no matter how much alone time I get - that's not introversion, that's depression. Include: whether I'm an introvert or depressed and calling it personality, what changed before I became "more introverted," and whether I need alone time or need help.