How to deal with wanting to isolate yet connect at the same time ?

Hi everyone,

I'm (25F) reaching out because I've been feeling quite lonely lately. I'm a very introverted person, and I find it difficult to open up to others. As a result, I tend to keep a lot to myself, which has led to some people blaming me for not sharing more or for not doing things that makes me uncomfortable.

The truth is, I want to connect, but opening up feels overwhelming, and I'm not sure how to break out of this cycle of isolation. At the same time, I am also comfortable with being alone, I have a social battery which requires me to sometimes isolate for some time. Has anyone else experienced something similar? How do you deal with loneliness as an introvert? Are there ways to gradually open up without feeling too exposed?

Since I am getting a bit old, and still struggling a lot, I am curious..