INFJs and INFPs and False Friends

INFJ personality types and INFP personality types often suffer from the same problem in interpersonal relationships. This problem manifests in the feeling of being smothered by the needs of other people, while simultaneously feeling very lonely and like no one truly sees us or understands us. INFJ personality types and INFP personality types are natural caregivers and adept at holding compassionate space for other people. These qualities draw people to us, and many people believe that they have a deeper bond with us than we do with them. It’s quite common for an INFJ personality type or an INFP personality type to be aware that another person considers them their “best friend,” and yet we don’t return the feeling. Continue Reading

INFJs and INFPs and Chronic Pain

INFJs and INFPs both frequently suffer from chronic pain. Sometimes this pain arises from an injury, and sometimes it is the result of a long-term chronic illness. Whatever the root cause is, living with chronic pain is an exhausting process. It’s helpful to understand how the traits of the INF personality type affect your journey with chronic pain, and can even contribute to an increase in pain levels.

Both INFJs and INFPs commonly experience “energy overwhelm,” and this is a significant factor in an increase in pain levels for those who live with chronic pain. Energy overwhelm happens when we are overwhelmed by too many people or too much stimulus, as often happens with busy workplaces or crowded events. Energy overwhelm can also happen when an INFJ or INFP is trying to take care of too many people. It can also happen when we spread ourselves too thin trying to ensure that harmony is present in any given situation. Continue Reading

INFJ and INFP Unhappiness in Life

INFJ personality types and INFP personality types are two of the MBTI personality types that tend to struggle with unhappiness in life. For INFJ personality types and INFP personality types, this unhappiness usually stems from keeping themselves small. This can show up in the workplace, in family life, or in a friend group. INFJ personality types and INFP personality types usually play small to protect themselves, and to ensure that they don’t trigger insecurity in others. However, this has a long-term detrimental affect on the INFJ or INFP, as they don’t feel like they can ever really be seen, heard, or acknowledged for who they are. Continue Reading

Why Are INFJs and INFPs So Self-Conscious About Their Creative Work?

INFJ personality types and INFP personality types are two types within the MBTI personality type system that tend to be the most self-conscious. The extreme degree of self-consciousness that these two types experience affects them deeply, and can often cause them to suppress their creative urges. This is because the act of being creative can feel like an invitation for others to attack and criticize their creative efforts, and the INFJ personality type and INFP personality type live in fear of being judged. Continue Reading

INFJ and INFP Depression

One of the biggest (yet also most hidden) causes of depression for INFJ personality types (and INFP personality types) is blocked creativity. Many INFJ personality types do not even realize that the reason they feel low-grade depression constantly throughout their life is because they have cut themselves off from a vital need of their personality, and that need is the call to be creative.

Creativity is an unstable energy by nature, and because of its instability it can feel difficult for INFJ personality types to trust it. An INFJ who has experienced trauma in their past will most likely have control issues, and they will feel very uncertain about allowing creativity into their lives because the energy of creativity cannot be predicted, and it cannot be controlled. Surrendering to their own creativity can feel scary, and the INFJ personality type also doesn’t want to get hurt. So, they mentally protect themselves from feeling out of control by suppressing their own creativity. Continue Reading