When talking about INTJ stress triggers and how do they cope with stress, it is worth mentioning that these individuals will be thrown off if their talents and creative ideas are not appreciated by others.
Being an introvert, they will remain quiet about their hidden charisma, but would love to see others noticing them in certain subtle ways. They will feel irritated and frustrated if their skills go unnoticed.
INTJs are known as the logical masterminds, thus they hate to see emotions attached with decision making. People of this personality type will prefer objectivity and will always have a rational outlook towards life.
Thus, they will be stressed out if asked to handle emotional situations. They will fail enormously in situations that call for giving emotional support or care to someone.
Let’s get into the details of the various factors that lead to stress in these nerdy types and how well they manage the triggers so as to feel at ease with the situation.
Factors that can cause stress in INTJ personalities
You may probably know that INTJs have a keen sense of both their surroundings and other people. They are extremely empathic and frequently have a better understanding of others than they have of themselves.
This is the “Architect” or “Counselor” archetype of the Myers-Briggs personality type theory. They put forth a lot of effort, make a commitment, and carry it out. Additionally, they may be more prone to anxiety than any other personality type.
INTJs may withdraw from other facets of their lives when they are faced with demanding or stressful activities. While stress is something we all experience from time to time, there are many situations when it can be prevented.
An INTJ should make an effort to engage in activities that make them interested and enthusiastic, such as pursuing their own objectives and communicating coherently.
INTJs can avoid irritation and tiredness by avoiding chores that put excessive strain on them, being honest about their stress levels, and engaging in activities that thrill them.
The painful and stressful, or unsatisfying experiences are frequently the result of energy-sapping activities. Understanding the activities that exhaust each personality type is crucial.
The 10 factors causing stress in INTJs
INTJs may withdraw from other facets of their lives when they are faced with demanding or stressful activities. While stress is something we all experience from time to time, there are many situations when it can be prevented.
An INTJ should make an effort to engage in activities that make them interested and enthusiastic, such as pursuing their objectives and communicating coherently.
INTJs can avoid irritation and tiredness by avoiding chores that put excessive strain on them, being honest about their stress levels, and engaging in activities that thrill them.
1. Situations that require the expression of feelings
Major emotional expressions often cause INTJs stress. They tend to feel uneasy in emotional circumstances and prefer to think things through logically instead of coping emotionally. The INTJ dislikes confrontation. INTJs love peace and harmony.
They usually steer clear of or retreat from anything that disturbs their serenity. To keep their inner peace, they may occasionally even cut individuals out of their life.
The majority of INTJs are empathetic who have a strong grasp of other people’s emotions, though may not be seen outwardly. They might, however, unintentionally absorb other people’s feelings and fail to notice them if they are not cautious.
2. Interacting with large groups of people or crowds
Being around and spending a lot of time with lots of people is likely to deplete INTJs because they tend to be naturally reserved.
To minimize potential discomfort brought on by being among a lot of people, they prefer solitude and communicate mostly via textual means rather than physically working with people.
The two extraverted functions of an INTJ are extroverted feeling (Fe) and extroverted sensing (Se). Being sympathetic to others and appreciating the sensory beauty around them are two ways that an INTJ personality type engages with the outside world.
These two functions nevertheless, are not those that an INTJ person prefers to play. They often exhibit less development in these two functions.
As their dominant function is introverted intuition (Ni), they tend to internalize their emotional upheavals much more easily than others.
Moreover, being an introvert, they will never communicate their feelings clearly and thus feel drained due to too much socialization.
3. Being required to follow a set of traditional rules
Though INTJs value having strategies in place, they frequently question conventional conventions. They are more likely to consider the value of specific regulations because of their openness to novel solutions.
If they disapprove of something, they usually don’t automatically follow instructions.
4. Small talk and daily pleasantries
INTJs tend to shut out small conversations since they are direct, rational individuals. They will likely become worn out trying to meet the demands involved and sidestepping the topic at hand. Instead, they prefer to deal with the issue at hand without being distracted by side topics and not engage in gossip with others.
5. Lack of creativity from the environment
When they are in an atmosphere that isn’t prepared to try something different, INTJs may indeed feel helpless. They may become frustrated and worn out if they discover a new approach that they imagine will perform effectively but is met with opposition only because it is novel.
6. Investing In Details
INTJs are more likely to experience stress if there is too much information or other sensory inputs, especially if you are feeling unclear about the issue.
You become quite uneasy in unexpected situations, events, or disruptions because you are compelled to pay attention to present sensory information rather than using your intuition.
Examples include completing your taxes and finding your way around a strange city. You risk making annoying and distressing mistakes as you begin to lose your big-picture perspective.
You can become hooked on locating the “correct” or “hidden” piece of information that will cure your situation and stress over the most minor particulars. Alternatively, you may try to command everything around you.
7. Having a Rigid environment
Working in environments that are rigidly regimented, closely controlled, and prohibit their ability to think independently causes INTJs great distress.
You have very high expectations for yourself, typically perfectionist ones, and you need the freedom to be creative to meet these goals. Incompetency or teams that lack guidance will also cause delays because they keep you from generating anything worthwhile.
You are more likely to focus on all the environmental problems while you are under stress at work. Because you believe you must handle everything by yourself, you may start micromanaging other people.
You might even start picking on and criticizing your co-workers in an attempt to persuade them “for their gratification.”
8. Problems in interpersonal relationships
INTJs are especially prone to feeling hurt whenever there is conflict in a close connection. Feeling constantly misunderstood can undermine your authenticity and cause you to doubt your worth, especially when a friend or acquaintance appears to disagree with your point of view or offer advice unnecessarily.
You also tend to take on other people’s beliefs and feelings as your own. As the intensity of the external conflict rises, so does your sense of personal discomfort.
To keep harmony in a low-stress relationship, you will frequently put up with a lot of things. There is, however, always a line that other people shouldn’t cross. When they occur, your stressful conditions may be disastrous.
9. Numerous disruptions
INTJs like to make plans but hate when they fall through. They might find it challenging to be impulsive at times since they are so intent on achieving the objective.
INTJs require privacy and may become quite anxious if they come into contact with too many individuals in one day. When confronted with such acts of aggression, there is a chance that you will get so overextended trying to solve other people’s issues that you will forget about your own needs.
10. Having their thoughts and observations discounted or neglected
INTJs think that the absence of empathy and not seeing development toward a goal. It is like not being capable of knowing what will probably happen.
Hence when their ideas are unheard by others, they feel distressed. They feel less valued and hence their anxiety level goes up significantly.
9 ways to cope with stress in INTJ personalities
The fact that an INTJ experiences stress from a variety of perspectives makes it crucial for you to be ready to face stressful circumstances. If you are INTJ type, you need to keep track of the actions you take when you’re stressed. You should set some time to recharge and cope with stress when you anticipate encountering your recognized stressors. For instance:
- Make time for solitude.
- Make a special effort for yourself. Think about engaging in artistic or creative endeavors.
- Discuss with a sympathetic buddy.
- Do something completely different and shift gears.
- Keep a journal to record your emotions and the ideal course of action.
- Think about your beliefs and take action to ensure that your actions and decisions are consistent with them.
1. Reduce sensory stimulation
Due to their heightened sensitivity to sensory inputs, INTJs must turn off stimulation when they feel they are losing control. Finding a quiet place to take a few deep breaths, get away from any disruptions, lights, or noise, enter a dark room, and lay down with their head on a pillow is said to make many INTJs feel better.
2. Solving simple problems
The tertiary “relief” function for INTJs is introverted thinking. They typically avoid a grab reflex by engaging their tertiary function. An INTJ can emerge from a paralyzing stress reaction by just solving any puzzles.
By doing some light problem-solving, the INTJ may learn to step back from their challenges, calm down, redirect their energies, and then return to the problem with a more stable frame of mind.
3. Spend some time alone
INTJs require the ability to escape from everything and everyone when they are feeling very overwhelmed. When they are among others, INTJs naturally use their Extraverted Feeling (Fe) to gauge how others are feeling.
It might be difficult for people to remain calm under pressure since their Fe is like a radar detector that is constantly alert to surrounding emotions and demands. They can attempt to attain homeostasis by distancing themselves from everyone to slow down that process.
3. Reject all but keep the vital commitments
INTJs are prone to accepting more tasks and obligations than they can handle. To ease stress, pressure, and strain, their to-do list can be drastically cut down in size.
4. Spend time outside
Spending time in a serene environment outdoors can be extremely beneficial for INTJs who are suffering from Extraverted Sensing. They can clear their heads by going for a stroll through the woods, relaxing by a tranquil stream, or sprawling out on the grass.
By enjoying every sound and sight that nature has to offer and making an effort to fully experience the present, they can use this time to access their Extraverted Sensing healthily.
5. Learn to be less gloomy and slow down with yourself
INTJs sometimes have an excessive need for perfection and take life very seriously, which can make them feel overburdened by duties and unfavorable insights. Taking a step back and learning to laugh or even weep might be helpful at times.
Many INTJs believe that finding a little emotional release is helpful for their healing. INTJs typically feel relieved after releasing some sort of emotion, whether it is laughing at entertaining entertainment or sobbing at a tear-jerking drama.
6. Exercise
Exercise can help the INTJ get rid of a bad grasp reaction and establish a connection with a good form of extraverted sensing.
Moving around also stimulates the brain’s natural endorphin release, which lowers stress! Any form of exercise, such as yoga or a quick jog around the neighborhood, might help individuals restore control over a stressful circumstance.
7. Writing a Journal
An INTJ frequently pays more attention to other people’s emotions than their own. The INTJ may struggle to deal with emotionally demanding events since they aren’t particularly good at organizing and understanding their feelings.
INTJs like combining different bits of crucial information to form a cohesive image that has some meaning in the grand scheme of things since they are conceptualizers and big-picture thinkers.
8. Find a Healthy Hobby
It may be helpful for INTJs to find a productive outlet for their Extraverted Sensing if they have grip reactions regularly. Individual interests will differ; some INTJs like photography, while others adore baking, fishing, gardening, and watching sports. When they feel paralyzed by stress, INTJs should have a pleasing sensory activity they may partake in.
9. Venting out
INTJs who need to vent might find comfort in doing so to a close friend or family member after some time alone. By verbalizing their stresses, INTJs may hear themselves and understand their sensations through extraverted feelings.
The INTJ tends to tire of themselves after prolonged periods of venting. They could apologize to their friend or feel bad about any act of “weakness”.
INTJs must, however, express their feelings in some way since, if they don’t, they won’t be able to understand and absorb them as well.
To Sum Up
Despite being the least prevalent personality type of all, INTJs have a significant impact on society.
They are idealistic and upstanding people who wish to make a difference in the world. Architect personalities’ sense of fulfillment also comes from helping others, and becoming a force for good in the world.
For an INTJ, success is defined not money or power but by the fulfillment of one’s inner talents.
They are troubled by injustice, and they frequently put compassion above self-interest, though they get misunderstood at times for being too serious in their outward demeanor.
They typically feel the need to use their skills, such as creativity, imagination, and sensitivity, to uplift others and spread compassion around them.
