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[INFP] INFP's and mental illness

Nephele

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Ive read before that INFP's are more succeptable to developing a mental illness, especially depression - as our view of the world is so innocent, we see the world through rose colored glasses, and obviously we have been let down by people in our past.

What are your thoughts? Do any of you struggle with a mental disorder?
 

Nephele

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Señorita :)

Yes, it doesn't surprise me. Ive also read that along with depression, is anxiety, borderline personality disorder, social anxiety, depersonalization disorder etc. If you don't mind me asking, what are you all diagnosed with if you have been diagnosed?

I'm curious on the topic, as I've always felt a little out of place, and have always struggled with depression.
 

prplchknz

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Señorita :)

Yes, it doesn't surprise me. Ive also read that along with depression, is anxiety, borderline personality disorder, social anxiety, depersonalization disorder etc. If you don't mind me asking, what are you all diagnosed with if you have been diagnosed?

I'm curious on the topic, as I've always felt a little out of place, and have always struggled with depression.

schizoaffective. I do struggle with social anxiety but i think that's a symptom for me because when i'm stabelized i don't.
 

Nephele

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schizoaffective. I do struggle with social anxiety but i think that's a symptom for me because when i'm stabelized i don't.

Yeah, I'm partially the same. I get social anxiety when I'm in a more depressed mood, and my confidence lifts when I'm more in control of my emotions (which is rare!)
 

1AuroraAngel1

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I have had Generalized Anxiety Disorder since the age of 8.
 

Such Irony

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In the United States, there is alot of external pressure for ESTJ-like behaviors. Those behaviors tend to be rewarded more than INFP-like ones. I think that might be a factor in INFPs being more prone to mental illness.
 

prplchknz

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the more i sit back and watch the world, I realize lot of mental illness is a form of control, you don't like that I don't believe I need that to be happy? then I am mentally ill. I wish I was rich, so I could leave society. I like people, but they've been to indoctrinated for their own good. One thing happens that's how it is for the rest of your life. The best solution, play the game enough to become indpendently wealthy and politely make your exit. Keep in contact with those that listen discard the rest.
 

Tiltyred

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Bipolar Type II, GAD, OCD
 

Flâneuse

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I've been diagnosed with GAD and depression, and three of the four other INFPs I've known well have struggled with depression too.

In the United States, there is alot of external pressure for ESTJ-like behaviors. Those behaviors tend to be rewarded more than INFP-like ones. I think that might be a factor in INFPs being more prone to mental illness.

Agreed. In the U.S., INFPs are pretty much the opposite of an "ideal person". In general, rather than being encouraged to develop naturally according to their own preferences and strengths, they're supposed to contort themselves to fit a mold and this makes it much harder to flourish. Add in their innate sensitivity/emotional intensity, and it's not hard to see why INFPs would be particularly prone to anxiety and depression.
 

Noll

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Well, I am shy and avoiding. But I see it more as a personality trait. There's up's and down's in my life, as is for everyone.
 

Eluded_One

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I'm pretty sure I have some form of ADHD. Among other things, such as depression and social anxiety are as I personally see as normal cycles of life. I would question these so-called disorders if they were relevant to acting independently without a cause, rather than a reaction to having low-self esteem and other attributes that are often associated with being highly introverted.

Although I picture mental illness being defined as something long term or so severe you can't function properly (ex. schizophrenia), I realize that this is far from the typical or dictionary meaning. Our psychiatric system is based around what is abnormal in every day life [as there is plenty of money to be made]. How do you define what a healthy mind looks like when there are people that have completely nothing and are genuinely happy with their lives? Then when you look at the other end of the spectrum with those that have a complete life and the next thing you know, you're reading the newspaper of some famous person's suicide.
 

lecky

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Have struggled with depression, like many other types, mine started in HS after a break-up. I'm older now and can look back and see that it's always been triggered and can even feel it and stop it from taking control. This usually means fighting my mind and getting out of my comfort zone, exercising, reaching out to friends. When I was depressed I would hide from the world because I didn't want to burden others with my problems. I thought I was a freak, but now I see lots of people struggle with it from time to time. It's simply lack of proper coping mechanisms, as well as different brain chemistry.

In college after my freshman year I was diagnosed with social anxiety and ADD. The social anxiety was easily cured, it's anxiety and fear of being embarrassed and I took medication for ADD, it helped me through college but it's addictive and not really good for you. My family and friends preferred me off of it, apparently it made me "bitchy". I still struggle with ADD, and I wonder if the medicine made me worse...I feel more scattered now than before I ever started taking it. I found an article that many INFPs are diagnosed with ADD, when we shouldn't be, but like I said before...it got me through college with flying colors.
 

Nymphie

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I have social anxiety disorder and depression, the latter being triggered by the former because of me really wanting to connect with people but being horrified of their judgment, plus there's the whole Internet addiction thing (The comorbid psychiatric symptoms of Internet addiction: attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, social phobia, and hostility (2007) | Your Brain On Porn) and a greater propensity towards addiction in general because I'm an sx 4 so I want teh intensity not boring Si routine shit and genetics (I call them blue genes, teehee).
 

Thessaly

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I have ADD and have recently recovered from PTSD, although I believe I probably could still qualify for some sort of anxiety disorder *shrugs*
 

prplchknz

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yay!!! let's self diagnose and overthink into having a diagnosis, yay helping pharmaceutical companies!!!
 

Thessaly

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yay!!! let's self diagnose and overthink into having a diagnosis, yay helping pharmaceutical companies!!!

You're childish. You don't invalidate the mental health struggles of others like that. These are extremely difficult topics for people to disclose with others, even anonymously on the internet. No one goes about labelling themselves without having serious problems they've had to look into.

I am not self-diagnosing either. I've been through hell and if it weren't for a proper diagnosis I would have never recovered and led a healthy life again.
 

prplchknz

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You're childish. You don't invalidate the mental health struggles of others like that. These are extremely difficult topics for people to disclose with others, even anonymously on the internet. No one goes about labelling themselves without having serious problems they've had to look into.

I am not self-diagnosing either. I've been through hell and if it weren't for a proper diagnosis I would have never recovered and led a healthy life again.

I have been diagnosed I think mine is bullshit. that i've been lied to. so I'm sure others have as well. I'm getting people to wake up
 

Buttahfly

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Maybe INFPs tend to see themselves as sick or wrong, even though they are actually healthy.
Maybe sick people tend to type themselves as INFPs more often, because of the stereotypes.
Maybe INFPs tend to overall get treated worse than many other types, because their functions could make them fitting into society less.

And maybe it's a mixture of all three reasons why so many of them say they have a mental illness.
 

MadKitten

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Agreed. In the U.S., INFPs are pretty much the opposite of an "ideal person". In general, rather than being encouraged to develop naturally according to their own preferences and strengths, they're supposed to contort themselves to fit a mold and this makes it much harder to flourish. Add in their innate sensitivity/emotional intensity, and it's not hard to see why INFPs would be particularly prone to anxiety and depression.

I have actually developed a theory that mental illness is merely an imbalance between individual and environment. We change our behavior to survive(basic instinct), but unsafety of our environment doesn't give us enough room to be who we are. We suffocate something inside of us and come ill. It's an inner fear that society leaves "different" people out of it and without protection. We are animals as far as i can see. INFP's need more than an average person, but i have seen that they(and similar types/traits) can also give more.

yay!!! let's self diagnose and overthink into having a diagnosis, yay helping pharmaceutical companies!!!

Sometimes self-diagnosis seems silly. It's like thinking: "You know, you cant Yourself tell whats wrong with you. You need someone else for that(make diagnosis)". While many people might not be talented of reading themselves and want some diagnosis to comfort themselves(have something for themselves), my ability to self-diagnose is an effort to understand me. Different names, such as Major Depression or Bipolar are something that guide us to know ourselves, but in the end human mind is fluid and specific diagnosis can be harmful. I definitely have had several mental illnesses, but never gotten official diagnosis for them. I don't need it. I know myself and that's enough. I we would have enough care and love, no one would need pills. Excuse me for my essay, this is a bit touchy topic to me :duel:
 
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