Stress occurs when the person feels an extreme mental pressure in a situation that seems to be uncontrolled in some way. We all get stressed out by several factors that test our mental tenacity and endurance to a great extent. Knowing the INFJ stress triggers and how they do cope with stress will help us to understand their overall mental state and coping style in trying times.
INFJs are empathetic and sensitive. Therefore, they find it hard to face conflicts in daily life. It can stress them out in no time. Anxiety and nervousness is related to too much showering of empathy. Research backed evidence has confirmed this correlation to a great extent.
INFJs will also feel the heat of the moment if anyone tries to dismiss their opinions. Moreover, they will also feel bad if they are compared with others. These individuals will also feel stressed out if they seem to be ignored or unheard in subtle ways.
If stress is too much, INFJs may act out impulsively. Thus, they may need a place of absolute solitude to recharge themselves all over again.
Factors that causes stress in INFJ personalities
INFJ personality type is unusual and rare. They comprise a small number in the population. INFJs are known for their reserved and thoughtful maneuver. Moreover, they are visionaries who always think about a bright future.
Their positive outlook towards life makes them appealing and vibrant to others. INFJs are fascinated to know the unknown, and understand the deeper meanings involved in a challenging situation.
They are both logical and emotional. Thus, they suffer from regrets and resentments much more than others when things do not go as per their expectations. People with INFJ preferences cannot tolerate sensory overstimulation.
They prefer a systematic, organized way of dealing with things. Therefore, anything that irritates their planned world can appear too stressful and irritating for them. If you tell them to see through details, they may feel annoyed and disturbed as they are used to visualizing the bigger picture only.
Similarly, unfamiliar environments are also not welcoming to an INFJ because they prefer to stay informed about everything. The unpredictable situations are seen as threatening because they do not seem to be prepared to handle it efficiently.
The INFJ personality type may also feel the grip stress if their plans do not work out, or gets disrupted by some other person or an unforeseen situation. These individuals are resistant to change and as such feel emotionally overwhelmed during uncertain times.
People with INFJ preferences may also suffer from mental restlessness if they are expected to socialize with unknown people for a long time. They appreciate alone time more than anything else; however stress is not uncommon in such times of intense socialization.
In the grip of stress, INFJs may express resentments. They tend to become more impulsive, restless, and short-sighted. They may behave in odd ways that are not in tune with their original ‘self’. These individuals may feel caged in an unproductive state of mind, being completely unaware of what to do next in line.
INFJs may find the vision of their life in a state of stagnation. Therefore losing interest in pursuing future goals also seem improbable to them.
Under stress, INFJs may either become too obsessed in doing routine work or they may engage in unsafe practices that can only allure their sense organs. It includes activities like too much screen time, too much socialization, etc.
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The 10 factors causing stress in detail
For many people with INFJ typology, stress occurs when they find themselves in a mayhem situation where everything seems to operate beyond their control.
Avalanche of negative emotions can take a toll on them as they become more used to experiencing the stress every day. Now, we will discuss the 10 potent factors that can cause stress and overwhelming emotions in INFJs.
1. Mistakes are awful to INFJs
INFJs tend to set high work standards for themselves and others. Therefore, they cannot accept mistakes and slip-offs in their daily work. Even the slightest mistake may feel too heavy on their fragile heart. They may become too over-critical and start judging themselves or others too soon.
They are not the ones to carry on smoothly after making a mistake. Instead, they will carry the burden upon their shoulders for a long time. They will regret and repent for not being perfect. As such, they may feel their inner critic getting harder on them day by day.
INFJs will feel nervous, anxious, and more self-critical than before. They may become stressed out when they humiliate others’ by pointing out their deficits. They will regret it but may not correct it altogether. INFJs also find it hard to let go of the mistakes and it haunts them day in and out, making them lose confidence in themselves.
2. Too much competition can overwhelm them
For an INFJ personality type, too much completion is stressful because they cannot handle the pressure that comes with this competitive mindset. The reserved introvert prefers environments that are emotionally sensitive and harmonious.
They love cooperation and peace rather than turmoil their peaceful existence with unhealthy rivalry and feuding. People with INFJ preferences are advocates of serenity and harmony. Competitiveness appears demanding and they cannot adjust with these undue demands. Moreover, opposing others’ is not their choice. They prefer cooperation and teamwork.
Anything that goes against their set beliefs and ideology is not liked by an INFJ. INFJs love to please others and stay in tune to others’ needs. They can never think about getting into battling and vying for no reason. It brings a host of negative emotions in them quite early.
3. Social injustice is irksome for an INFJ
People with this personality type are moved by injustice and social toxicity. Being a feeling-judging type, it is all the more important for an INFJ to bring social justice to its rightful place in the community. They get concerned about others’ well being and might voice these concerns loudly in the social space as well.
When they feel confined and cannot bring the desired justice, they feel stifled from inside. This brings a lot of stress to them. They feel upset and frustrated when their attempts and action plan to bring social equality fails and they just become silent observers to the injustice happening around them.
4. Unpredictability is stiff and crippling
Being a judging personality type, INFJs feel trapped when they cannot make plans ahead of executing something on time. Moving smoothly with the flow of the situation is not their strong suit and as such they may fail badly in their endeavors. This can surely give them a lot of anxiety and mental discomfort.
A lot of people sharing INFJ traits will feel annoyed, irritable, and anxious due to lack of organization and planning. If sudden changes come up that were unexpected, INFJs will fail to meet the demands of the situation.
They cannot withstand uncertain events and unpredictable situations that put them in false positions all of a sudden. They dislike spontaneity as it hits them hard in finer ways.
5. Keeping track of too much detailing
Another factor that can be a source of stress for INFJs is their inability to see through the details of a situation. INFJs prefer to see the big picture and think about future possibilities of a situation. They are intuitive thinkers, so looking into the details of a matter is cumbersome and stressful.
As they love to make grand schemes and big plans, they might completely ignore the details. If others tell them to dive deep into the intricate things, they may feel bored because it goes against their natural ‘self’. They prefer to see the whole rather than seeing the parts of the situation that contributes to making the whole.
6. Comparisons with others
INFJs are self-sufficient and independent-minded. They hate being compared with others in any way. Growing up, they have learned to remain independent in their thoughts, feelings, and actions.
However, if someone compares them with others in terms of their talents and abilities, money and status, INFJs may feel stressed out. They may start questioning their self-worth. In some instances, they might also try to please others so that they can somehow fit into the social conventions of a ‘good enough’ person.
7. Dismissed or excluded from social group deliberately
Getting dismissed of their opinions or being excluded from a social group intentionally can cause a lot of mental discomfort to an INFJ. They may act in odd ways by externalizing their anger and frustration.
Moreover, overwhelming negativity may cloud their power to think rationally and they may prefer to act out their anger outwardly by verbal fights, acts of impulsiveness, etc.
Even if their close friends ignore them in a group as if they do not belong anywhere inside the group, INFJs may feel left out and lonely. The reserved and quiet nature can start to rebel and show their annoyance openly. They will feel hurt and resentful like never before.
8. Controlled by others
This can be a source of stress for an INFJ type. They hate being told what to do in a situation. INFJs cannot take orders from others because of their individualistic nature. They tend to remain calm unless it gets over their head.
If some authority figure tries to interfere in their private or professional life, INFJs will reject them outright. They may feel emotionally burdened under an authority figure as they hate to be micromanaged, even in subtle ways.
9. Conflict and confrontations
This can cause a lot of pain and emotional suffering to an INFJ. They tend to avoid conflicts because they prefer peace and poise around them. They hate to see others in pain and suffering and may not like to put themselves in a similar situation also.
INFJs will consider conflicts as a direct attack on the opposition just to prove them incorrect. They are highly attuned to peace and prefer not to involve themselves with aggressive verbal fights, accusations, and insults. It makes them sad and scared from inside.
10. Last minute change of plans
INFJs do not like last minute change of plans. They feel uncomfortable because it makes them deal with uncertainty and unpredictability. Last minute changes and surprises will never allow them to stay prepared and move ahead with their existing plan. In such a situation, INFJs may respond with annoyance, anger, regret, or even disappointment.
Ways to cope up with stress
When INFJs are forced to act and behave against their preferred mode, they experience stress. In order to relieve stress, INFJs should consider doing certain things so that the mental pressure reduces and they feel at ease with themselves.
1. Lots of alone time
In the grip of stress, the introvert should spend time with themselves. Doing so helps them to calm down and develop a fresh perspective of the situational demands that led to stress response.
INFJs will be able to pick up those emotional cues that need to be corrected. They will be able to respond well after a thoughtful consideration of everything around them. Alone time is their first line of defense against stress and emotional meltdown.
2. Not taking up non-essential responsibilities
INFJs will have to learn to say ‘no’ to requests made by others for help and assistance. They should keep away from taking unnecessary responsibilities as far as possible, so that their level of empathy and compassion stays in the lower end as much as possible.
They should go slow with showing too much empathy as it makes them more anxious. INFJs should learn to stay away from working in many projects at a time so as to ensure that their mental health doesn’t face overwhelming pressure of any sorts.
3. Spend time in nature
INFJs are nature lovers. While in stress, they can unwind happily by being more tuned with nature. They can go for a nature’s walk and be present with their surroundings. This will also help them to see the details of the situation they are in; they will no longer struggle with being present in the moment.
Taking a nature’s walk and listening to the sounds of birds can be relieving and rejuvenating as well. Savoring and soaking in the moment will also allow for deeper emotional control in them.
4. Meditation
As INFJs are perfectionists, they will easily get bogged down if things do not work out as expected. They may lose their house keys, or forget the mobile in a parking lot while going to the office. These small details are irritating to manage for an INFJ type. Thus, mediation can help them develop better focus. They will be able to stay tuned with the present moment in a better way. In doing so, frustration and annoyance related to mundane details will be eased out easily.
5. Journal your thoughts and feelings
INFJs are creative and insightful people. Thus, it will be easy for them to calm down emotionally if they write their negative thoughts and their emotions regularly. This will help in regulating the disturbing feelings and feel at peace with oneself.
Other Coping Mechanisms
INFJs can use some other coping strategies to keep themselves calm during trying times.
- Go for a play or movie
- Reading
- Meeting friends and relatives when feeling too overwhelmed
- Try out a regular hobby
- Join a community welfare group and help the needy and poor
- Listening to a soothing music piece
- Find a place of privacy and peace to recharge your batteries in newer ways
To Sum Up
The agreeable and approachable nature of an INFJ makes them vulnerable to stress quite often. They feel anxious when they take up more responsibilities than what they can actually do in reality. The overwhelming feelings can take its toll on their physical and mental health.
Moreover, chaos and distress in relationships and the workplace can shatter an INFJ badly. They may feel lost and prefer to have a space of solitude to rejuvenate their spirits again. Being an introvert, they prefer to unwind alone because it gives them more positive energy to deal with emotional discomforts than spending time with others.
Thus, for an INFJ, solitude acts as a stress antidote and facilitates their mental wellbeing to a great extent.
