INFP ADHD & ADD: How INFPs Can Improve Their Attention Span
The struggle with personality types and correlating them to things like ADD or ADHD, is the fact that sometimes it is simply part of their personality. Which types are more likely to have these disorders really isn’t something that can easily be measured, and so it is important to take a step back and analyze accordingly. Diving into the traits and differences can help to understand what might cause these types to be misdiagnosed, or what might make them potentially more prone to certain conditions. It is important to understand each individual on a deeper level before making assumptions, since there is far more complex details than simply pegging a personality type as something without learning more.
INFPs can often be labelled as having ADHD or ADD, because they do have a tendency to have a shorter attention span. Of course some INFPs might actually deal with these disorders, but that doesn’t mean they all do. It is important to learn about each individual and what makes them tick, so that we can gain a better understanding of who they are and what they are about.
INFP and ADHD
A lot of INFPs might find themselves diagnosed as having ADHD as children, since they do have difficulties paying attention to one thing. This can be a major misunderstanding, especially since this is often how the INFPs mind works naturally. INFP have this desire to bounce around to different ideas and struggle to remain focused on one thing. It is important not to jump to this assumption because so many INFPs are simply wired this way and it isn’t something which needs to be fixed or altered, simply understand. The INFP child is curious by nature and wants to explore so many different things around them. Their minds are processing everything much faster than people realize, and so they can lose interest if they aren’t challenged in the right ways. In so many cases the INFP is often highly intelligent and needs to find something which can keep their active minds interested. They often need special classes or instructors who can keep up with their wild and imaginative inner minds, and help to find something which will keep them inspired and focused their passions in a productive manner. When the INFP isn’t stifled and doesn’t have people trying to change them, they can be very successful and can utilize their creativity in amazing ways.
While most INFPs simply have minds which work a certain way, of course, some might actually have ADHD. It is important for the doctor diagnosing them to understand the difference and not simply try to alter the way they behave when in truth it just needs to be redirected. INFPs are complex people with rich inner minds, they just need to be stimulated in the right ways. They can explore so many different paths and options in life, and become curious about the world around them. INFPs are capable of maintaining focus, so long as they have something which actually draws their attention and keeps them interested. They need to feel excited and inspired by what they are doing, or else they become bored and underwhelmed rather quickly. It can be a truly miserable feeling for the INFP to be pegged as having something wrong with them, when in truth they are just misunderstood. To be told they need to fix who they are, can cause the INFP to struggle with depressive feelings and loneliness. This is another reason why they so often feel misunderstood by those around them, since the INFPs mind is simply busy with so many ideas and thoughts all at once. They need to find things which can help them focus this curiosity and creativity into something positive and inspiring.
Their daydreamer tendencies is a big reason why the INFP can become diagnosed with ADHD. The way they can sit for hours just imagining so many different things, is something others might struggle to understand properly. The INFP loses focus on what is in front of them, because the things going on inside their mind is so much richer and more fulfilling. They have such complex inner minds that they become more interested in what is going on inside, and can be seen daydreaming and easily distracted from what is in front of them. They also have a hard time sitting still in most situations, especially as children. This is because the INFP dislikes feeling stagnant or trapped in one place for too long.
The difference is that INFPs don’t necessarily have behavioral struggles or have a hard time listening to instruction, which are also common traits of someone with ADHD. The INFP simply wants to find something which is more inspiring and can actually be great at respecting others and their boundaries. They might not be great at following certain rules though, and will be curious to understand the rules better and figure out if they believe in them. The INFP challenges authority from a young age, simply because they want to be sure they are following their own internal set of morals. The line can be rather blurry at times, which is why it is so important to understand the INFP on a deeper level before accepting that they do have something like ADHD.
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Thank you this explains much that has puzzled me 🌞
Amazing insights. This has been a core struggle for my entire INFP life, and I believe I was misdiagnosed as ADD in my 20’s. INFP describes the seeming contradictions that exist within me better than the ADD and disorder models do.