Srinagar, May 4 -- By Musaib Bilal

A familiar scene plays out in classrooms, offices, and family gatherings in Kashmir. Someone sits silently, speaks when needed, and listens more than they talk. People glance at each other and reach a quick conclusion: something must be wrong.

A louder voice, full of jokes and easy talk, earns instant approval and gets labelled happy and confident.

That instinct feels natural, though it misses a basic truth about human behaviour: silence does not signal distress.

In fact, a calm presence does not point to a problem. Many people simply prefer a different way of engaging with the world, one that values depth over constant interaction.

Confusion between introversion and social anxiety fuels this misund...