Intro thread: bipolar INTP

[Polaryclipse]

Hi y'all--I've been interested in MBTI typing ever since I read *Please Understand Me* in middle school. Now, fifteen years later, I've just escaped from law school (STJ paradise, NTP hell!) with a mild case of manic depression; I figure it serves me right, since, true to type, I only ended up there because I couldn't decide what else to do.

Lately, though, I've really been chafing under my exaggerated "P" side and thinking that it's also exaggerating my mental problems (or the other way around). I've always thought of myself as creative but directionless; left to my own devices, I never plan anything ahead. Too much of that for too long, especially when the creativity part doesn't get enough attention or support, can not only leave a person depressed but prevent you from implementing a way out. And then, when a Big Transformative Idea finally hits you, it's such an exciting relief that you ride it all the way to Jupiter! Back in middle school I certainly didn't appreciate the structure and routine of my day or my community; now I'm starting to think that those things were really what made it possible to be creative and chaotic *and* still stay healthy.

In recent weeks, I've been trying to approach the structure-and-order famine by absorbing the work of NTJ thinkers like Randy Pausch, Natan Sharansky, and Steve Pavlina. I have lots of fun gathering all that information and envisioning how awesome I'd feel if some of that rubbed off on me and I became an INTJ. Unfortunately, when I try to "act J" in real life, it's exhausting: I end up acting like an INTP who's dogmatic and irritable all the time. I'd love to develop my latent decision-maker without totally eclipsing my true nature, whatever that may be...but I'm pretty sure a big part of that will entail forming a peaceful relationship with the Introverted Perceiver within. Maybe balance lies in both directions.

See you later,
--Polar

 

[shoeless]

i've always had that problem, the whole "creative but directionless" thing, but it's really just a matter of finding a method of managing your time that works.

setting little goals helps, i think. instead of looking at everything in terms of the big picture. today is the start of national novel writing month or whatever -- that's a perfect example. don't think "i have to write a novel", think "today i have to write 1500 words of a novel".

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Welcome.

I suggest finding a place where your knowledge, reasoning and insight may be of service to others.

 

[The Gopher]

*walks in surounded be hippy INFPs* haya doing man! wait... *turns away the hippys* I mean to say welcome into the forum. *mutters something about lunch* hope you get infected(but you won't understand this[unless you have seen a lot of the forum{cause it's an inside joke<with some people>}])

Edit: I didn't realise you started with "Hi y'all" so I wasn't taking the micky out of you. (although I do that to people)