[INFP] INFP and Stress

[Herself]

I'm on my Journey into finding my personality type.
When I really look into the functions and development of an INFP, it seems to fit the most. (Almost Creepy)
The only other type I somewhat connect with is the INTP.

I have mild depression due to some things that happened to me.
Before I had traumatic memories to deal with, the INFP description would fit me completely.

On certain days, I come off as XXTJ. I'm sort of curious if this would be normal for an INFP, in a stressful state.

Also, I know an INFP (Self typed), that is much more gentle in demeanor. I do have a lot of interests in common with this INFP, and we both ramble to each other.
Infp's are described as shy... I'm not shy. I'm quiet around people I don't know, so this can make me appear to be shy.

My overall question is: Can two INFP's be so different from the outward view?

 

[SearchingforPeace]

Unhealthy and stressed types will appear much different than the healthy versions. Add in enneagram and two people of the same type can be very different

 

[Firebird 8118]

Oh yeah, they definitely can be - like me and my ex, for instance (he was enneagram 4, I'm enneagram 9, and we each had our own mix of healthy and unhealthy traits which made us different from each other).

 

[Herself]

Unhealthy and stressed types will appear much different than the healthy versions. Add in enneagram and two people of the same type can be very different

I was looking into Enneagram, it's really interesting.

 

[Gawain]

Also, since MBTI has four letters, and each letter is on it's own sliding scale, every INFP will have a different combination of the strength of each letter. For you (and many others) the closest type is INTP, but for me it's ISFP. Only one letter changes for each of us, but that's a huge difference. If I were to break myself into percentages, it might look something like this: I - 60%, N - 52%, F - 90%, P - 95%. That's going to be a very different person than an extreme introvert or someone who might be close to the middle on the J/P scale.

I can also understand the trouble with coming across as a Thinker after trauma. When my mom disowned me I kinda went through that. I started to rely on my Te to survive, and it sorta took over my personality for awhile. It's settled down a bit over the years, but when I feel threatened, I immediately become cold and calculating again. It's easy to slip into now, because it was necessary for so long. I don't like being that person, but I guess it's better than the alternative. It seems impossible to keep my Fi and Ne intact during extreme depression or emergency situations.

 

[RobinSkye]

INFPs and INTPs are vastly similar. To the point where I spend a lot of time questioning it myself. The best thing I think you can do is research cognitive fuctions a lot, observe it in whatever you can, and then apply that to yourself as well. I value Fi as an INTP, but only to a certain level of consideration. It isn't how my brain normally functions, as I want to rationalize everything (including emotions) for the sake of itself, not in relation to just me or any person/living thing. Another approach is to compare the inferior functions. This is something I did when comparing I/ENTP. Inferior Fe vs. Inferior Si, to a degree I think I exhibit some disgust towards both Si and Se to a lesser extent. Se is all about being showy and exaggerated in the moment. Si can get stuck in tradition and regularity, which I wholly disprove of, since Ne is probably my favorite function. I like contemplating how to improve (any NP type is awesome because of this!). Fe, though, is the real killer. It's not like I'm completely reclusive and stuck inside myself (though I definitely don't make myself as available to people as would be optimal) but it's clear that although I don't necessarily portray deep hatred for showing emotion I do not like being lied to or controlled for the sake of group harmony, societal impact etc. My Fe clearly comes out unhealthily when stressed, when not heard or understood. Pretty much, if you find that interaction with emotionally overbearing people is what hurts you most, you likely have inferior Fe. If it's feeling you have lack of control in any regards (being typed a certain way is one I experience often when conversing with INFPs because they don't want to be boxed) then that would suggest inferior Te.