INFJ Anxiety: Dealing with the Many Forms of Anxiety
Anxiety is something most people deal with to some extent, but some people can be more prone to anxious feelings or behaviors. There is some correlation to personality types and anxiety and even to anxiety disorders. Sometimes this is simply because of their overactive minds and the way their natural functions process the world around them. For some people anxiety can simply be a temporary response to the stress around them, or from negative habits which have pushed them in this direction. Of course there are also times when this is an actual clinical anxiety which needs to be treated by others means like medication and seeking help from a licensed therapist. With anything there are often many ways to seek help, and it is important to take the appropriate steps to rectify the situation.
INFJs have rather active inner minds and can actually be highly sensitive to outside stimulus, this can cause them to be more prone to anxiety. They have so many thoughts and feelings running through them at once, and it can be hard to balance this when they don’t get enough alone time. There are many reasons why the INFJ might experience anxiety, and in some cases this can just be a situational or momentary thing. This anxiety can come from not having the right boundaries in their lives, or simply by worrying so much about making others happy. INFJs are often good at burying those feelings so people don’t even realize that they are dealing with anxiety or depression at certain times in their life.
Low Battery
When the INFJ is feeling emotionally drained from too much social interaction, they can certainly start to feel more and more anxious. This anxiety rises up because the INFJ is not getting the time to themselves that they so desperately need. They find themselves wanting to help others and make them happy, but it is truly important that INFJs learn to find this balance and set appropriate boundaries. They require time to themselves in order to recharge, or else they become exhausted as their social battery gets low. They will become more anxious and start to feel like they can’t function at normal capacity. This is something which can cause the INFJ to think they have some sort of social anxiety, when in reality they just need time to themselves as introverts. They might enjoy being around people but become nervous at the idea of a party or social event, because they haven’t quite learned how to express when they need to go home. The INFJ definitely needs to learn to let people know when they need space, or else they will start to become anxious at the idea of interacting with others.
Personal Guilt
INFJs put a lot of pressure on themselves to take care of others and make them happy, and so they can feel guilty over the smallest of things. Guilt is something many INFJs deal with throughout their lives, as they tend to blame themselves for things which couldn’t possibly be their responsibility or their fault. INFJs can experience anxiety because they constantly second guess their actions and want to be sure they are making those around them happy. Feeling like they need to care for people can really cause stress for the INFJ. They find themselves constantly running over their mistakes and analyzing how they could have done better. This is certainly something which is more common among the INFJ who hasn’t matured their other functions and learned how to set certain boundaries in their relationships.
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is not something which can be attributed to types, as many introverted types don’t actually have social anxiety they just require time alone. There is a major difference between these two things which is why it is important to understand them further. INFJs need time alone, but many INFJs actually do enjoy being around certain people and are not uncomfortable interacting with others. They can actually be rather charming and even appear like they are social butterflies, if they want to be that is. INFJs might do this when they are younger as they are trying to please certain people in their lives, but in reality they do prefer being alone or being with one person they are close to. The INFJ who does have social anxiety often uses the excuses of needing time to themselves, and distances themselves from the pressure of performing or behaving a certain way in front of others. They don’t find the balance of interacting and connecting with people, instead they become afraid of even the smallest interactions and often have to plan them out to the finest of details.
How to Deal
INFJs need to be able to take things one step at a time, as too many details all at once can cause a sensory overload. When they are feeling anxious or overwhelmed the INFJ needs to avoid major changes in their lives. They need to be able to process the information coming at them one thing at a time, rather than trying to take it all in at once. INFJs can also be anxious when people around them are being extremely inefficient and lazy, and so they likely need to get away from these people when they are feeling anxious. They need to be around people who can help pick up the slack and who don’t need constant instruction on how to do this.
One of the biggest things the INFJ needs when they are anxious, is to simply take time away from socializing. This doesn’t mean they need to be completely alone, as INFJs do often enjoy being around certain people even when they are drained. If the INFJ has someone who makes them feel comfortable and safe, they often enjoy having their company when they are anxious or exhausted. They enjoy sitting in silence with the right people, and are happiest when they can just relax in their own thoughts in the presence of that special person.
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