Spacing out

[s_T]

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/out-the-darkness/201503/can-you-stop-thinking

^This link and other articles talk about thought chatter but I rarely experience that?? If I don't feel like thinking of anything my mind can somehow go blank if I randomly stare at something. Is this normal or is it weird?

INTPs are also described as people whose "thought process is unceasing, and their minds buzz with ideas from the moment they wake up". As in sometimes when I look around at things my mind tends to invent ways to improve them but most of the time when I am not doing anything my mind is just...blank. Do any of you experience that to? It never feels like my mind is 'working hard' which gives me a feeling of emptiness

 

[Pyropyro]

I can't blank my mind, but I can make its thoughts more coherent by concentration or by working on a specific project for a long time.

I think it's called Intellection by the Strengthsfinder people

Not sure about your experiences but perhaps you simply don't have that trait.

 

[s_T]

that's weird...most people I ask say they wish they could stop the stream of thoughts but I struggle with a blank mind

 

[Pyropyro]

that's weird...most people I ask say they wish they could stop the stream of thoughts but I struggle with a blank mind

Eh, don't feel bad. I think a blank mind is excellent in sports and other hi-performance physical activity since it will help you focus on your goals.

 

[Ponderer]

My mind is blank almost always because I meditate every day. It think it's good because I'm more able to live in the moment and experience life, without worrying about past or future. This has helped me to achieve inner peace.
If you are thinking all the time that's not good because you are living in your head instead of on earth.

 

[Grayman]

You cannot stop thinking but you can divert some of the load to your subconscious mind. I think that people who are always thinking are doing the opposite.

When I am letting my subconscious interact with the outside world I dont experience what happens but later I can recall it like a faint dream. Often people say that they dont dream but science shows that they do dream but cannot consciously remember it. It is likely deeply hidden in their subconscious mind.

Anyways I didn't used to be in my head so often. I purposely worked on it for years because it allowed me to resolve thought problems during thoughtless tasks making me more efficient.

I think people view being in your head as negative because so many use their thought time pursuing negative and unproductive thoughts that are anxiety driven. Ultimately I disagreed with the Buddhist mentality in that holding onto and following thoughts is bad. I think emotionally driven thoughts are bad. Emotions should be more reserved for human interaction and communication.

 

[s_T]

Problem is even when I want to think or ponder hard about something e.g. in a math exam, I can't bring my brain to actually think really hard and it can be annoying.
Sometimes I feel as if I'm solving problems in my subconscious mind...

 

[Grayman]

Problem is even when I want to think or ponder hard about something e.g. in a math exam, I can't bring my brain to actually think really hard and it can be annoying.
Sometimes I feel as if I'm solving problems in my subconscious mind...

Are the questions verbal, visual, or symbols?

What are your thoughts based of?
Visuals
Feelings
Verbal
Audio
Sensing+Feeling

Do you think of scenarios in relation to the math question or are you stuck thinking of what was talked about in past sessions or are you more worried about what other people are doing?

 

[QuickTwist]

IDK how I identify with the OP. I am not always thinking in terms of deduction, no. But if it is a problem I am working on I often will come to an abrupt train of thought where a solution comes to me that I have not seen elsewhere.

But again, I am not like a lot of INTPs in that I do not always remember what I learned. So for me, it is always a creative process when I am thinking and not so much a logical endeavor.

Does this sound like you, s_T?

 

[Happy]

Problem is even when I want to think or ponder hard about something e.g. in a math exam, I can't bring my brain to actually think really hard and it can be annoying.
Sometimes I feel as if I'm solving problems in my subconscious mind...

#ENTPproblems

 

[Ex-User (13503)]

OP, maybe a stretch, but are you experiencing some degree of mild dissociation, perhaps?

 

[QuickTwist]

#ENTPproblems

Thanks for quoting that. I think the OP has ADD, severely.

 

[Stratagem]

Ah... Hello thought chatter my ol' friend,

I've come to argue with you again,

You've always complained of something

Even if its just my breathing...

If you'd just give me the sound... of silence.....

 

[s_T]

Sry haven't replied for a while XP

to reply quicktwist, I thought it's pretty normal for students to forget what they learned? Or perhaps it's just an INTP thing idk. Usually i don't really feel like I have anything to think about, as in sometimes I even need to think of things to think of to make that feeling of emptiness go away.

As for mild dissociation, don't think I have a disorder but I'll search it up anyway cos it sounds interesting

 

[s_T]

Btw do any of you tend to doubt your MBTI type? Occasionally, around once a week, I would see a description or "you know you are an ... when..." of another MBTI type and feel that it sounds like me.
Then I'll go and research it up and make a "shortlist" of which MBTI type I might be instead. Sounds familiar to anyone here??

 

[cheese]

Yes, my mind is blank most of the time. Never related to the 'endless chatter' INTPs are supposed to have. The blankness allows things to come and go easily I suppose. I also have zero problems falling asleep.

I've felt like a bit of an airhead sometimes, which I'm ok with. I think the comment about the subconscious taking more precedence in emptier minds makes sense - I spend more time experiencing the moment as it occurs, and then thoughts bubble to the surface as the raw experience is processed at the back of my mind without much awareness.

Having a constant stream of verbal chatter sounds exhausting and like only one channel is being used. I personally associate that experience with anxiety.

Verbalising thoughts gives me more clarity, precision and output. Allowing myself to experience and process unconsciously gives me more insight. Going to either extreme doesn't work well, for me.

*edit
I've also noticed a lot more clarity and insight after meditating for a few days. It seems to give me the mental space for simply noticing things which are obvious in hindsight, and helps me deal with things around me and impatience better. Again, awareness of what's going on simply bubbles up without really understanding from where.

 

[Archetype]

If you've been having chronic stress for a long time, I think one of the results of being stressed all the time is that it calms down your thoughts—like your mental activities go down. Or at least that's what happened to me. Too much stress for long periods of time lowered my mental activities such as; the voice in my head, I hardly have a "last song syndrome" anymore, I started to develop a deep sense of apathy (which is probably one of the factors as to why I became an INTP) etc. among others. However if you want to calm your mind because you "think too much" (as other people who don't understand usually say) you can try your hand with calming activities such as yoga, meditation etc.

 

[s_T]

I spend more time experiencing the moment as it occurs, and then thoughts bubble to the surface as the raw experience is processed at the back of my mind without much awareness.

I do feel more "in the moment" than the INTP descriptions suggest, then occasionally I'll see something that sparks my thought...then that "daisy chain of thoughts" thing starts


Would really like to know whether u guys also go through the same thing as me regarding doubting your MBTI type. Is it just me or do INTPs generally research more into MBTI and try to draw conclusions from it?

 

[Grayman]

Would really like to know whether u guys also go through the same thing as me regarding doubting your MBTI type. Is it just me or do INTPs generally research more into MBTI and try to draw conclusions from it?

Who doesn't doubt? Lets keep the list shorter.

 

[QuickTwist]

OP might want to get this:

 

[Ex-User (13503)]

As for mild dissociation, don't think I have a disorder but I'll search it up anyway cos it sounds interesting

*ears twitch* I have to provide absolute clarification that having dissociative experiences doesn't mean having a dissociative disorder and an obligatory warning against self-diagnosis, but experiences seem pretty common in INxx, though the flavor of dissociation seems to vary by type.