Healing for an INFP

[Blimblam]

As an INFP Meyrs Briggs personality type I have found it essential to connect my emotions to my physical sensations to their archetypal sources within and connecting them to symbolic representations outside of my individual conciousness then reintegrate it to my personal archetype structure within.

I have found anything linked to any urge I have is linked to these archetypes and it is sort of their way of communicating they need to be addressed and integrated or known.

I am wondering if you fellow INFPs maybe be willing to share some of your insights, experiences or methods for reconnecting to your self and healing.

[Blimblam]

Here is a link to a brief explanation of the the INFP personality type.

www.personalityjunkie.com/infp-personality-type-profile/

The book Types by Carl Jung gives an in depth analysis of those different aspects of the personality based on introverted and introverted functions. It is actually where the concept of introverted and extroverted personality types come from.

In the Meyers Briggs they consider that each dominant apsect of the personality also has a shadow side which is either introverted or extroverted which can give some patchwork to integrating aspects of ones shadow. This is sort of shallow when considering archetypes which infps have a natural affinity to comprehending.

[Shankz]

Here is a link to a brief explanation of the the INFP personality type.

www.personalityjunkie.com/infp-personality-type-profile/

The book Types by Carl Jung gives an in depth analysis of those different aspects of the personality based on introverted and introverted functions. It is actually where the concept of introverted and extroverted personality types come from.

In the Meyers Briggs they consider that each dominant apsect of the personality also has a shadow side which is either introverted or extroverted which can give some patchwork to integrating aspects of ones shadow. This is sort of shallow when considering archetypes which infps have a natural affinity to comprehending.

thanks for the link

[Blimblam]

Your welcome shankz

One thing that has been important to me is to not be critical on myself for my nature.  The INF has often been characterized as the "idealist healer." Which sounds a lot like the "white knight," their is a lot of stuff out their saying how dumb it is to be the "white knight," going as far to call it white knight syndrome. An INFPs dominant function is Fi(introverted feeling) so we feel things deeper and more intensely than most types, in general. I know I do. An infp has Te or extraverted thinking and extraverted intuition. All things thing by their very nature may make an INFP feel guilty it ashamed when trying to characterize how to heal by just putting up boundaries.  It's almost like saying don't be who you are it is wrong. 

Our dominant function is introverted feelings so processing these emotions can be very consuming and because of our extraverted thinking if we are feeling lost we may turn to others to advice or use as a spring board to think things through but if they say how we are is wrong we may question ourselves.  My intense and deep emotions are looking for something to anchor to in my conciousness and in the external. This can lead to finding a cause or fantasy and day dreaming.  It can also lead to projection.

The thing about having extraverted thinking and intuition is if we project onto something to anchor our emotions and something happens that is not inline with our projection we will seek to understand through thinking it out with the object of our projections they may say things inline with our projection but our intuition says otherwise. This can lead to cognitive dissonance an surpressing of our intuitive emotions into our unconcious that haunt us.  So basically an InFP needs to find a healthy way to anchor ones emotions to their external intuition and thinking in a healthy way. A space to project our thoughts that we have control over that doesn't rely on other people. That way we can free ourselves to connect out extraverted intuition to our introverted feelings in a healthy way.

[Blimblam]

Also I have read that INFPs make up either 1% of the population or 4-5%. They also say and INFP is the most likely to seek out the Meyrs Briggs test and the most likely to see a therapist for help so I don't really know what percentage we are.  Or what percentage we are on the board because we may be more likely to take the test on the board. Let's assume for a moment we are not more likely to take the test on the board, that would mean we are between 2x to 10x over represented on BPD family compared to society! 

I did some looking up on introversion and kept seeing "the cure to introversion" as presented by an extraverted person LOL!  Introversion and extraversion concept stems from these jungian types model which is much more complex than the simplistic understanding most people have of it. Most people's solutions will be modeled off what works form them and if they are a different personality type what works for them may or may not work for us. 

Also if we looked at it from the standard psychiatric DSM model and pathologize we would probably register as schizoid tendencies with blah blah blah. 

Their is so much crap out their that can lead an INFP to feel who they are is wrong. It is just how we are oriented in relation to the values of society. 

Everyone I know will look at a symptom I may display and try to work it from their, we may even but into this logic but it is flawed.  I really think for me it is about a way to orient my introverted and extroverted functions. With self awareness to become mindfull.

[Blimblam]

The jungian types system is especially valuable to an INFP becuase it was created by an INFJ, Carl Jung, who's dominant function is Ni (introverted intuition) with Ti and Fe. So, basically the same dominant functions but oriented the opposite way which will satisfy an INFPs Extraveted thinking to help create a frame work for understanding our dominant introverted feeling function in a highly intuitive way. Once we understand how this energy flow works we can be our own guru and our own cause.

[Zon]

That must be it!  My wife wanted an INFP but got an INTP in disguise.   

According to that site mentioned above, a curse of INTP is that "it can make it difficult for INTPs to arrive at firm conclusions or make important decisions".  Very true!

[Blimblam]

That must be it!  My wife wanted an INFP but got an INTP in disguise.   

According to that site mentioned above, a curse of INTP is that "it can make it difficult for INTPs to arrive at firm conclusions or make important decisions".  Very true!

Haha yes it's that Ne at work. iNfps have that too. I know an intp pretty dang well and based on him he can be critical and judgmental based on his well thought out idea of how others should conform to his standards that are hard to live up to. He is a bit critical on the irrational nature of emotions. Infps and intps dominant function is a judging function. An INFPs inferior function is thinking so we tend to want others to understand our personal ethical worldview.  An INtp has Fe as their inferior function so based on my friend he sort of cynical and intolerant of brainstorming emotions and when someone is in a compromised state because of their emotions.  He can just repress his own and think his way through everything and sort of has that expectation of others.

[Zon]

That must be it!  My wife wanted an INFP but got an INTP in disguise.   

According to that site mentioned above, a curse of INTP is that "it can make it difficult for INTPs to arrive at firm conclusions or make important decisions".  Very true!

Haha yes it's that Ne at work. iNfps have that too. I know an intp pretty dang well and based on him he can be critical and judgmental based on his well thought out idea of how others should conform to his standards that are hard to live up to. He is a bit critical on the irrational nature of emotions. Infps and intps dominant function is a judging function. An INFPs inferior function is thinking so we tend to want others to understand our personal ethical worldview.  An INtp has Fe as their inferior function so based on my friend he sort of cynical and intolerant of brainstorming emotions and when someone is in a compromised state because of their emotions.  He can just repress his own and think his way through everything and sort of has that expectation of others.

First off, your friend is right.   

I think I see one of the issues now for my wife.  "Feelings are facts" runs extremely counter to my philosophy that you cannot be 100% sure about things.  I remember one talk we had where I told her that I look at things from different angles to understand things more fully.  She challenged me with a "would you argue with a textbook?"  I laughed a little and said that I have many times.  Not to say that I am right--I am though  , but I take the approach of questioning things a lot.

I have wondered many times what her type is.  I bet it is INTJ.  My dad was an INTJ, but I did not have near as much conflict with him.

From this article, I think she is an INTJ taken to a whole new level.  www.hipsterintj.tumblr.com/post/20897006308/the-great-big-intj-intp-post

[Blimblam]

That must be it!  My wife wanted an INFP but got an INTP in disguise.   

According to that site mentioned above, a curse of INTP is that "it can make it difficult for INTPs to arrive at firm conclusions or make important decisions".  Very true!

Haha yes it's that Ne at work. iNfps have that too. I know an intp pretty dang well and based on him he can be critical and judgmental based on his well thought out idea of how others should conform to his standards that are hard to live up to. He is a bit critical on the irrational nature of emotions. Infps and intps dominant function is a judging function. An INFPs inferior function is thinking so we tend to want others to understand our personal ethical worldview.  An INtp has Fe as their inferior function so based on my friend he sort of cynical and intolerant of brainstorming emotions and when someone is in a compromised state because of their emotions.  He can just repress his own and think his way through everything and sort of has that expectation of others.

First off, your friend is right.   

I think I see one of the issues now for my wife.  "Feelings are facts" runs extremely counter to my philosophy that you cannot be 100% sure about things.  I remember one talk we had where I told her that I look at things from different angles to understand things more fully.  She challenged me with a "would you argue with a textbook?"  I laughed a little and said that I have many times.  Not to say that I am right--I am though  , but I take the approach of questioning things a lot.

I have wondered many times what her type is.  I bet it is INTJ.  My dad was an INTJ, but I did not have near as much conflict with him.

From this article, I think she is an INTJ taken to a whole new level.  www.hipsterintj.tumblr.com/post/20897006308/the-great-big-intj-intp-post

One thing to be wary of is turning the types psychology into like a horoscope. It's just a model to understand how different functions of the psyche flow together in different ways for different people.

It is basically what introversion and extroversion really means.

It is intended to be incorporated into a larger framework of psychology and do away with a one size fits all approach to viewing things.

Understanding shadow projection and the types is a good framework to begin to find oneself.

[Blimblam]

That must be it!  My wife wanted an INFP but got an INTP in disguise.   

According to that site mentioned above, a curse of INTP is that "it can make it difficult for INTPs to arrive at firm conclusions or make important decisions".  Very true!

Haha yes it's that Ne at work. iNfps have that too. I know an intp pretty dang well and based on him he can be critical and judgmental based on his well thought out idea of how others should conform to his standards that are hard to live up to. He is a bit critical on the irrational nature of emotions. Infps and intps dominant function is a judging function. An INFPs inferior function is thinking so we tend to want others to understand our personal ethical worldview.  An INtp has Fe as their inferior function so based on my friend he sort of cynical and intolerant of brainstorming emotions and when someone is in a compromised state because of their emotions.  He can just repress his own and think his way through everything and sort of has that expectation of others.

First off, your friend is right.   

I think I see one of the issues now for my wife.  "Feelings are facts" runs extremely counter to my philosophy that you cannot be 100% sure about things.  I remember one talk we had where I told her that I look at things from different angles to understand things more fully.  She challenged me with a "would you argue with a textbook?"  I laughed a little and said that I have many times.  Not to say that I am right--I am though  , but I take the approach of questioning things a lot.

I have wondered many times what her type is.  I bet it is INTJ.  My dad was an INTJ, but I did not have near as much conflict with him.

From this article, I think she is an INTJ taken to a whole new level.  www.hipsterintj.tumblr.com/post/20897006308/the-great-big-intj-intp-post

I think my ex may be a fellow infp. I am not sure.

Understanding types is fascinating though and I feel helps with understanding how to approach working on onese self and understanding the needs of others.

[billypilgrim]

I am an INFP.  My exBPD is an ESFJ.  I definitely agree with your "white knight" description earlier in this thread.  It seems that INFPs need causes in their lives in which we do everything we can to see them succeed.  I know I took my exBPD on as my cause.  Which is part of these reason it's hurting so now that she left.  It's not only the end of an emotionally abusive marriage for me but I'm also mourning the loss of someone I deeply cared about and someone I held dear to me as my number one cause.  If you come across anything that eases the mourning process, please post.

[Blimblam]

I am an INFP.  My exBPD is an ESFJ.  I definitely agree with your "white knight" description earlier in this thread.  It seems that INFPs need causes in their lives in which we do everything we can to see them succeed.  I know I took my exBPD on as my cause.  Which is part of these reason it's hurting so now that she left.  It's not only the end of an emotionally abusive marriage for me but I'm also mourning the loss of someone I deeply cared about and someone I held dear to me as my number one cause.  If you come across anything that eases the mourning process, please post.

Well billy

A big reason we are searching for "a cause" is because of our extroverted intuition and introverted feeling and sensing.  Our extraverted intuition percieves injustices and immorality and we feel it deeply we want to make sense of it. This leads to us projecting in a really powerfull way. If we step back and analyze where things come from we can sense injustice.  

We need to spread our projections out in a way that makes sense. This is something that comes naturally to an INFP but the thing is western society is fragmented and disconnected from where things come from.

Their is a book called song lines about how Australian Aboriginal culture and ones guys travel diary on his journey to Australia. Traditionally they are linked to the environment and the sky through projection of their psyche and history and song and dance.  Their unconcious mind is directly connected to their environment in way they did not see themselves seperate from it. As an INFP I think I am looking for tat kind of connection and am just highly sensitive to how that has been siphoned into consumer products and pyramids. So we find one thing that is so pure and beautiful in essence that has been spoiled and make that our cause to make sense of everything.

If you follow the goddess art through out history they show how she became disconnected from the earth and at the begining of civilization turned into a whore to satisfy the appetites of greed. This is symbolic of when we had our psychic connection severed and manipulated from the natural environment.

[Blimblam]

I haven't always been and INFP though. I went through a period where I was an ENFP and another period I was an INFJ. So I don't really believe ones type is necessarily set in stone. It is really just a model of how energy flows based on how a persons functions are oriented at the time. The initial model was created by Carl Jung in the book psychological types.