Not sure if I belong here./advice?/intro.

[BeyondInsight]

Hey. Ive been looking into MBTI for the last few weeks. Ive bounced around a lot, initially believing I was an INTJ and then INFJ and then INFP. Here I am now, at INTP. Im not only curious which type I am but also if anyone of the same type has the same problems I have in both day-to-day living and just accepting the world, period.

Im a 20 year old male. Im intelligent and creative. Im constantly thinking when Im doing. I want to know the best way to do whatever it is I do. I think this is partly to entertain myself at my boring minimum wage job and a little bit because I feel its my responsibility to myself not to waste time being inefficient. This leads me to a lot of problems in daily life. I skip mundane things because Ive proven that Im able to do them in the most efficient way and its no longer interesting because theres nothing to figure out.

I have some undiagnosed depression that (speculation) stems partly from almost complete apathy for everything I do, even things Ive always loved like playing music, and partly from a deep sense that I have no value to others. This may sound redundant but Ive been gradually losing touch with my hobbies since I was 16. Ive also been depressed, or at least stagnant about 3/5 of the time since I was 14.

I dont feel a connection with things but I feel intimately connected with my perception of things. I can list everything that could potentially be wrong with a system thats broken, and to fix it I start from the most likely cause and go down the list. I can factor, within seconds, the chances that my knowledge will bring a fix to the problem. In other words I know exactly what I dont know.

I have some trouble keeping in touch with people that I havent seen in a while. Without constant reinforcement that a person appreciates me I suspect their attitudes are just an act because they feel sympathy for how pathetic I am or they feel pressured by the environment (Work, Dates, Outings). This may also sound redundant because it is actually the truth. We are pressured to act specific ways towards people depending on the environment. My "problem" is that I never get past that phase. I have trouble not feeling extremely influenced by my environment. This explains why I am totally happy staying home on my weekends instead of visiting my friends, being active, and progressing in life via college/girls/work/etc.


If youd like to know more just ask. Im interested specifically in finding out what type I am and if my fellows have some of the problems I do and how to overcome this apathy and boredom.

 

[Moocow]

Sounds like INTP to me. I'm also 20 and I'm the same as pretty much everything you described, even the indecisiveness between which IN** type I am. I think INTPs tend to doubt their type results the most. In fact, whenever someone tells me with utter confidence that they are an INTP I immediately doubt it because of the fact.

As for the depression, are you sure it comes from your apathy, or does the apathy come from the depression? I've been trying to figure that out for years for myself. I think the depression comes first, as a result of confining myself to a repetitive, dull, sedentary life. The nihilism and apathy pervades my thoughts afterwards as a result of poor health and boredom.

Anyhow, welcome to the forum!

 

[snafupants]

Boredom is so insidious: fight it with everything you have. My life has been greatly enhanced by realizing when I am becoming bored and then doing something about it ASAP. Find something, anything stimulating to preclude yourself from sinking further into that quicksand. Boredom, for me, leads to a slew of negative emotions - depression, anxiety, worry, etc. - directly or indirectly and gives those emotions a launching pad. Fuck boredom.

p.s., The third to last paragraph in the OP (especially the "I can factor" part) is troubling because it suggests overconfidence, which suggests overfamiliarity, which sets one up for boredom. Just my opinion, take it or leave it.

 

[EvilScientist Trainee]

First, welcome to the forum, hope you enjoy your stay.

Now, you're in some real depression there. And it doesn't stems from your apathy, apathy is one of the symptoms and also what's hindering you from getting better. I'm not your shoes, and I really don't know how you live. If i look a bit pretentious, i'm sorry, that's not my intention. But my word of advice is to don't let that apathy take over.

Don't dismiss something because you feel like you know how to do it. I'm not a good follower of that myself but do things for their own sake, not all the time, not everywhere, with not everyone. But try calling your friends and don't center your pleasure with what they are thinking, think about enjoying yourself and the company.

I've been there too, although my reasons to become depressed were more frivolous. And I really beg you: Don't succumb. You are a great person, but that ghost is blinding you. You'll find a good atmosphere in this forum, hopefully meet some people whom you'll relate to. Just don't fall to the depression.

Again, enjoy your stay.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Welcome to the club. The description seems like INTP, you probably are.

Advice? Try to find some physically stimulating activity that you can do by yourself, or, if possible, with others.

 

[BeyondInsight]

p.s., The third to last paragraph in the OP (especially the "I can factor" part) is troubling because it suggests overconfidence, which suggests overfamiliarity, which sets one up for boredom. Just my opinion, take it or leave it.

First, thanks to everyone who replied. I think this may be a great community. Im not used to detailed, objective feedback from people.

I agree with you, snafu. I am overconfident and overfamiliar. Its a turn-off for people that I meet. Ive always had this problem but Ive always had friends to put me in check or punch me when I start coming off cocky. I moved across the country away from all my friends, which Im beginning to think was the biggest mistake of my life. I dont have anyone that I enjoy being with to call and just spend some in-the-moment time with. All my interaction occurs at work. I think the overconfidence comes from social underconfidence. I feel like Im the only one I can rely on and that I shouldnt let anyone rely on me because of how apathetic I am.

 

[loveofreason]

I imagine lots of folk have found this place during times of not belonging anywhere, and made a home. You're in similar company regardless of which cognitive hierachy is natural to you. Mind though, 'sounding' similar to others here can be a very misleading way to type, so it may be more beneficial to just imagine you're talking with other people who can more or less relate to more or less of your experience, and just forget about 'type' for the time being. You belong regardless.

 

[The Gopher]

*screams float in from the hall out side the thread* *the goe4 comes in with a smug look on his face*

Ahh welcome

I understand completely about the hobbies bussiness I don't know what to do as I have kinda got bored of them. Oh and my the way your so INTP.

 

[loveofreason]

Please don't seriously tell someone "your[sic] so INTP" when such a call is based on just a few paragraphs to which you relate.

He's searching for his type, but comments like that are misleading. I can relate to the OP, and pull out instances from my life to support my understanding - I can even read some of those sentences and imagine I see the same cognitive processes behind them as I use, down to the detail of how the sentences are structured, not just the content.

I went through the same phase when I first discovered MBTI - I didn't know what type of intuitive introvert I was and examined all four, trying to find a 'fit'. The tests kept saying INTP, and I related to INTPs better than the other three, so I accepted that as default but never stopped wondering. It took me three years and the help of others who have a thorough, accurate understanding of cognitive functions, to find the truth. I'm INFJ.

BeyondInsight, please don't trust any of us if we sound certain of your type based on what you write here, just enjoy having other minds to talk to. Perhaps discover other ways of contemplating/evaluating personality - there are some informative threads here, you'll find answers if you look.

 

[MidnightGino]

Loveofreason, an INFJ?

Guess who just discovered he's INFJ too? (thanks, Adymus) I'm wondering... Are INFJs really that rare, or are they (we) just usually mistyped?

Anyway, back to the OP... Why not stay here some more time, learn more about cognitive functions, read everything you can about MBTI, and just talk with people here, regardless of your type? You'll eventually figure it out, I think. Good luck finding your type.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Loveofreason, an INFJ?

Guess who just discovered he's INFJ too? (thanks, Adymus) I'm wondering... Are INFJs really that rare, or are they (we) just usually mistyped?

Anyway, back to the OP... Why not stay here some more time, learn more about cognitive functions, read everything you can about MBTI, and just talk with people here, regardless of your type? You'll eventually figure it out, I think. Good luck finding your type.

INFJs are a myth.

P.S. I love all that purple man. My favorite color.

P.S.S. I know Adymus is very wise but if you were wrong about your type the first time what makes this typing so resolute? What I am saying is - be skeptical if you don't readily identify with the descriptions. Lest you get caught in emotional attachment and confirmation bias. It's happened to me.

 

[The Gopher]

Please don't seriously tell someone "your[sic] so INTP" when such a call is based on just a few paragraphs to which you relate.

thats the thing did I seriously tell him? the start of my post may have grounded that fact that I was in a serious mood but no I wasn't being serious.

 

[cheese]

Loveofreason, an INFJ?

Guess who just discovered he's INFJ too? (thanks, Adymus) I'm wondering... Are INFJs really that rare, or are they (we) just usually mistyped?

There sure seem to be a lot on this forum, anyway.

Hey, Adymus said the INFJs on the INFJ forum suck (badly developed, useless Ti). What about the INFJs here who think they're INTP? They'd be badly-developed in the opposite direction, presumably... lots of Ti, and not enough attention to NiFe. Perhaps?

 

[MidnightGino]

INFJs are a myth.

P.S. I love all that purple man. My favorite color.

P.S.S. I know Adymus is very wise but if you were wrong about your type the first time what makes this typing so resolute? What I am saying is - be skeptical if you don't readily identify with the descriptions. Lest you get caught in emotional attachment and confirmation bias. It's happened to me.

Isn't purple the best color? It should be mandatory for people to wear it everyday. No, wait, then it would be too common...

Well, to begin with, I wasn't always too confident with my type, though I was pretty sure I was INTP. Also, I've read quite a lot about INFJs and their (our (I have to get used to it yet)) disguises, and I can honestly say that it does make more sense being INFJ than INTP. I remember when I first got the INTP result that I wasn't very sure about it, some things were true (blame Ti) and some weren't. Though I get what you mean, I shouldn't take being INFJ as an absolute truth, just a very likely assumption, almost truth, but not exactly.

 

[MidnightGino]

There sure seem to be a lot on this forum, anyway.

Hey, Adymus said the INFJs on the INFJ forum suck (badly developed, useless Ti). What about the INFJs here who think they're INTP? They'd be badly-developed in the opposite direction, presumably... lots of Ti, and not enough attention to NiFe. Perhaps?

Perhaps. I should visit an INFJ forum sometime to see what they act like. But I can't say that the INFJs on this forum have uselss Ti, if you've ever read Adymus's "The Many Faces of INFJ", he says that INFJs who think they are INTPs or INTJs usually have a strong Ti, using his own words, "so well developed that they themselves would consider themselves thinkers before considering themselves feelers". So maybe you're right, INFJs here may have badly-developed Fe.

Ah, the wonders of cognitive functions.

 

[Adymus]

There sure seem to be a lot on this forum, anyway.

Hey, Adymus said the INFJs on the INFJ forum suck (badly developed, useless Ti). What about the INFJs here who think they're INTP? They'd be badly-developed in the opposite direction, presumably... lots of Ti, and not enough attention to NiFe. Perhaps?

Actually I'd like to retract that statement... I have not really looked into it in great detail but I don't think very many of their INFJs are INFJs.

A good portion of the ones that make videos have been INFPs and ENFPs. Strangely enough, the Male INFJs there though are consistently spot on in their type.

 

[Melkor]

None of us belong here.

We are trapped by the ghost of discontent, the realisations of loneliness and the shadows of thought.


Of the INFJ forum, I can say with little doubt that very few of them tend to actually be INFJ, though INFP's are in abundance. I don't tend to relate to them much, and nor do they relate well to the INFJ subject I have known for the longest of years.
I think the INFJ's on here have the habit of purer than the ones over there.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

INFJs! Ohh god, they are everywhere!

---

No really, we are a welcoming bunch once you get past my prejudices.

 

[pjoa09]

you doubted that you are INTP. You are INTP. I doubted I am an INTP. But pretty soon I realized only this handful that can understand me. And no music doesn't define this Jungian/MBTI type.

 

[cheese]

MidnightGino, that's what I meant

Adymus - ah, ok.

 

[BeyondInsight]

I thank you all for your responses. After a night of brainstorming at work I also believe I am an INTP (subject to abrupt change). Ive never been a member in a forum that wasnt closely centered around my group of friends so its nice to have actual objective feedback for the things I think about constantly.

I found some stuff about HSP (highly sensitive person) and it really fits more, wholly, than any MBTI results do. I have many defense mechanisms in place to protect my ego. The most prominent of which is avoidance.

Ive never considered myself a confident person but in reality I am. I hold true to my beliefs until I am proven wrong, at which time I change where necessary. Time to bring down these unneeded walls and start progressing myself as an individual. I just know now that, in spite of my intellect and willingness to accept reality, too much is too much. One step at a time.

Thanks again! This may be my new cyber-home.

Any good threads that need input? Before I waste my time reading tons of jabber that seems to have infected this thread? LOL

 

[EditorOne]

Take some of the type tests. I second all the caveats about being too quick to peg yourself. On the other hand, if you wonder where you belong there's a better than average chance you belong here.

Besides, it's not like we throw out anyone who's not an INTP. First, we couldn't be bothered, and second, everyone like that leaves after a week or two of confusion anyway.