• You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community, you will have access to additional post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), view blogs, respond to polls, upload content, and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free, so please join our community today! Just click here to register. You should turn your Ad Blocker off for this site or certain features may not work properly. If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us by clicking here.

[INFP] ENFPs and time alone

phoenix31

New member
Joined
Dec 11, 2015
Messages
290
MBTI Type
INFP
Enneagram
9
I was reading the Wikipedia article about ENFPs and it says they need time alone. I have also noticed with an ENFP I'm close to that he is very outgoing and enjoys people, but gets cranky if he doesn't have time alone and really needs that time.

Isn't that an introvert thing? I'm confused. Can anyone shed light on this for me?

I'm also curious if other ENFPs find this alone time needed in their lives, and I'm curious if other E types need time alone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Starry

Active member
Joined
May 22, 2010
Messages
6,103
I was reading the Wikipedia article about ENFPs and it says they need time alone. I have also noticed with an ENFP I'm close to that he is very outgoing and enjoys people, but gets cranky if he doesn't have time alone and really needs that time.

Isn't that an introvert thing? I'm confused. Can anyone shed light on this for me?

I'm also curious if other ENFPs find this alone time needed in their lives, and I'm curious if other E types need time alone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk



It's just the nature of Extroverted Intuition. Like, when you say "very outgoing" above what do you mean? It seems to me that people primarily use that term to describe someone that seeks out people...and yet for me...while I adore so many people from a distance...I'm generally trying to get away from them. There's just too much going on in my mind not to be on an ongoing mission to try and synthesize it. When you are constantly around people this is impossible to do (unless they are discussing it with you but it is rare I find people interested in what I'm interested in). I mean, I could be around an intimate that wasn't talking to me...I don't necessarily need to be alone...alone. But I need obscene amounts of time to piece together all the impossibilities.
 

phoenix31

New member
Joined
Dec 11, 2015
Messages
290
MBTI Type
INFP
Enneagram
9
By outgoing, I meant enjoys talking with people, meeting new people, seems to be energized from it, etc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Starry

Active member
Joined
May 22, 2010
Messages
6,103
By outgoing, I meant enjoys talking with people, meeting new people, seems to be energized from it, etc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


yes, I forgot to include that I'm outgoing for experience only...I don't seek out people for people's sake beyond intimates. If I connect with another person or group of people via experience that I enjoy I will get tons of energy from them. If I encounter another person or group of people via experience that I don't feel connected with but for some reason they are still wanting to hang with me and because I'm a sick feeler I will sometimes feel *bad* if I want to get away from them and then I'm totally distracted and confused and looking for cliffs or bridges to jump off of...
 

ceecee

Coolatta® Enjoyer
Joined
Apr 22, 2008
Messages
15,914
MBTI Type
INTJ
Enneagram
8w9
I was reading the Wikipedia article about ENFPs and it says they need time alone. I have also noticed with an ENFP I'm close to that he is very outgoing and enjoys people, but gets cranky if he doesn't have time alone and really needs that time.

Isn't that an introvert thing? I'm confused. Can anyone shed light on this for me?

I'm also curious if other ENFPs find this alone time needed in their lives, and I'm curious if other E types need time alone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Every E I know needs alone time. Especially the ENFP's. My ENFJ does too. It's not just an introverted thing.
 

phoenix31

New member
Joined
Dec 11, 2015
Messages
290
MBTI Type
INFP
Enneagram
9
I thought the whole difference between introverts and extroverts was whether or not they derived energy from being with people vs. being alone. So I'm all kinds of confused. :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

ceecee

Coolatta® Enjoyer
Joined
Apr 22, 2008
Messages
15,914
MBTI Type
INTJ
Enneagram
8w9
I thought the whole difference between introverts and extroverts was whether or not they derived energy from being with people vs. being alone. So I'm all kinds of confused. :)

Yes, that's correct but it doesn't mean they need unlimited interaction to be happy. One of my ENFP friends like to lay on the couch or on her bed and simply spend time with me or anyone else, quietly, maybe a little talking but mostly not. I don't know why this is confusing to you, everyone needs some decompression some of the time.
 

phoenix31

New member
Joined
Dec 11, 2015
Messages
290
MBTI Type
INFP
Enneagram
9
The reason it's confusing is I had the impression that extroverts would get tired or restless being alone just like it's tiring for introverts to be with people. So I thought the E way of decompressing would be to be around people. *shrugs*


Sent from my iPhone using Tap Stalk
 

ceecee

Coolatta® Enjoyer
Joined
Apr 22, 2008
Messages
15,914
MBTI Type
INTJ
Enneagram
8w9
The reason it's confusing is I had the impression that extroverts would get tired or restless being alone just like it's tiring for introverts to be with people. So I thought the E way of decompressing would be to be around people. *shrugs*


Sent from my iPhone using Tap Stalk

Let me put it this way. My ENFP friend wants quiet time but doesn't want to be alone. I don't get it but ok. If people are around and she is decompressing (watching TV, playing games on her phone, reading...) but there is someone around in her house - that is what she would like best. To me, that is the difference between introversion and extroversion. She needs some sort of presence for whatever reason, even if she never interacts with them during that time.
 

fetus

New member
Joined
Mar 22, 2015
Messages
2,575
Enneagram
6w7
It really depends on the person, to be honest. I have heard that ENFPs are the most introverted of the extroverts, but I've recently been shying away from making sweeping judgments about types. ENTPs are also supposed to be an introverted extrovert, but I know one who said only half-jokingly that she would get antsy after a ten minute walk by herself.

I'm a very "introverted" ESFJ. I need a lot of time by myself and could happily go several days without seeing anybody. It's really more about where you primarily get your energy and which way your thoughts flow, or cognition. The E/I thing really is a spectrum.
 

ChocolateMoose123

New member
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
5,278
Instinctual Variant
sx/sp
By outgoing, I meant enjoys talking with people, meeting new people, seems to be energized from it, etc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My ENFP told me being with people, interacting with them brings him happiness. If he avoids it too long, he becomes depressed, sad.

That's the opposite of an introvert. Being alone brings me happiness, if I'm around people, interacting a lot and avoid time alone, become irritable, angry...

We both value time alone and socializing but where the emphasis is for fulfillment is different.
 
Top