Question about young intj

I had a troubled home/family situation, so I would try to keep from going home after school as much as possible. I would work out and practice martial arts in the school gym and train for [American] football (I only like full-contact sports). I was 190 pounds of solid muscle with about 5% body fat and was kind of popular because of it. Unfortunately I was so introverted back then that I never knew it and actually believed everyone hated me. Apparently the other kids thought I was conceited/arrogant because I never socialized much, nor had any real friends.

I once beat up the school bully in front of 100 witnesses, and they actually threw a party that weekend in my honor. Yet I still thought everyone hated me. I was so delusively introverted that it warped my self-image and gave me a very low level of self-esteem which eventually led me to attempt suicide. Thankfully, I botched it and survived.

After I graduated HS and got away from that environment, I started to grow intellectually and realized that there wasn't anything "wrong" with me more than anyone else. I was just different, and in some ways that was a good thing.

Being INTJ in my high school was difficult because I was the only one, and I had no understanding of why I was so different, and no one was really there to provide support and encouragement. A very bad time of my life. I'm glad it's over.

/r/intj Thread