We live in a world full of complexities and problems. Hence, it is normal to feel stressed out. The same applies to an ISTP personality type individual. Thus, recognizing the ISTP stress triggers & how they cope with stress can help you deal with stressful situations better.
Several factors cause stress to the 16 personality types, hence draining out their physical and emotional energies. ISTPs feel stressed out when they are under pressure to commit to long-term assignments or undergo useless routines without any purpose.
Let us go deeper into the topic to find out different kinds of ISTP stress triggers and how they can cope with them in the best possible manner –
Factors That Can Cause Stress in ISTP Personalities
ISTP people possess a calm persona and feel energetic when they get to spend time alone. They always focus on facts and details. These individuals hate investing time in ideas and concepts. Making decisions based on logic and reason matters a lot.
Abrupt decisions that make no sense tend to upset their rhythm of life. As they like to plan things and properly organize them, unplanned and disorganized stuff irritates them and results in stress.
ISTPs are spontaneous and flexible individuals who put their whole focus on actions rather than words. Thus, they do not like all those people who talk a lot but do not convert their words into actions.
Also regarded as Virtuosos, they tend to shift their focus from one work to another. Sticking to one thing for a long time is not something they enjoy. It makes them suffer from boredom. They firmly believe in change being the only constant thing in life.
These individuals are high-spirited and possess the curiosity to touch and examine the details of everything around them. Anyone attempting to restrict their free-flowing nature would only invite stress and tension for an ISTP.
They have a sharp sense of environment. Due to this reason, ISTPs make swift moves and respond to emergencies. Any kind of restriction that does not let them do stuff in their way can turn out to be quite stressful for these individuals.
Let us now discuss the different stress triggers that can disturb the rhythm of ISTP’s life in no time –
1. Rigid Structure and Stringent Restrictions
ISTP personality type people always like having the freedom to stay in the present. They wish to explore opportunities as they come through during life. These individuals do like to plan out their whole day. Once that happens, sticking to the same can turn out to be stressful.
They tend to feel trapped and stifled, causing restrictions to their carefree approach. Managing things in detail and the rigidity of schedules can easily irritate ISTPs and put them under a lot of stress. Under these circumstances, these usual laid-back individuals tend to unnecessarily worry a lot about the outcomes of their work.
This Myers-Briggs personality type tends to think of the consequences if things do not work out as how they want. The fear of the unknown consumes their mind and affects their thought process to a great extent.
2. Stifling Relationships
This point is in line with the first. ISTP prefers being with someone who gives them the freedom to lead a life in their way. They need a partner with whom they can share similar interests, hobbies, tastes, and preferences.
If the person interferes with ISTP’s independence and tries to have things as per their liking, then it will be a big turn-off for the ISTP individual.
Virtuosos are free-spirited people. They can be extremely loyal and loving to their partner. You can trust them that they will do anything to fulfil your wants and make you happy. The problem arises when, as a partner, you try to control their lifestyle. ISTPs will become agitated and put themselves under a lot of stress.
They must understand that every individual possesses a different personality altogether. They have different ways of looking at things.
Therefore, just like your partner needs to understand their style of leading life, an ISTP person should also take things lightly and maintain peace whenever their partner does something they do not like.
3. Dealing with Highly Emotional Individuals
ISTPs carry a strong sense of logic. They always try to go out of their way to look at situations objectively. Highly emotional individuals would always irritate ISTPs and create confusion in their minds.
As the Virtuosos tend to deal with different situations of life in a practical manner, hence they do not resort to emotions. Thus, they do not prefer getting into any sort of emotional conflict with others.
If people around ISTPs are overly emotional, they would look for ways to come out of the place as early as possible. Spending time with them does not allow the Virtuosos to keep their spirits up.
4. Focusing on Theories for Long
People with the ISTP personality type are those who prefer practical work to read theories for a long time. They believe in actions speaking louder than words. Hence, putting theoretical knowledge to good effect is the way to move forward.
If they must read lengthy theories, it will turn out to be a boring proposition for ISTPs. It will force them to depend on Introverted Intuition, which happens to be their least-preferred function. This Myers Briggs type loves to focus on those things that have applications in the real world.
ISTPs can occasionally enjoy going through theoretical study or conversation. Still, they will always prefer to learn and talk about things that they can make use of in their daily life. It makes them feel that their life carries some purpose.
5. Extensive Socializing
We all know that ISTPs are introverts. They always prefer spending time alone and doing things as per their liking. Being around people and communicating with them is something they hate. It makes them feel as if their privacy is getting hampered.
They like taking time to think, reflect on different situations and focus on their work at hand. You can rest assured that they will not require any external assistance to compete for any work to perfection. Taking someone’s help will only put them under stress.
Thus, ISTPs do not like attending parties as they will have to mix with others and spend time talking to them.
Even if someone forcefully takes them to a gathering, they will find a way to come out of it at the earliest possible time. Otherwise, apart from getting under stress, they will start getting irritated and bored.
6. Work Environment without Challenges
The personality of an ISTP is such that they thrive on thrills and challenges. If they fail to engage themselves in any work and cannot see growth in it, they will soon become tired of the job. Their concentration level will start wavering from time to time. It will harm their performance.
These individuals love solving critical issues and use their skills and knowledge to come out of tricky situations.
Doing routine, stereotypical work while sitting in one place is not what induces excitement among ISTPs. It will not take much time for boredom to set into their system.
Even though ISTPs can always pick and choose their preferred domain of work, there can be occasions when they might need to do something they do not like. Accepting situations and adjusting their personality accordingly can come of great help.
7. Disrespecting their Values
It takes a lot from someone to irritate an otherwise easy-going, relaxed ISTP. Despite being calm and easygoing, these individuals do possess a strong set of values and desires. They build their lives based on these two aspects.
Now, ideally, people should always give due respect to the principles of ISTPs. Whenever they turn out to be disrespectful of their values and needs, this introverted personality type person would like to completely shut them out from their life.
No matter what happens, an ISTP will never compromise its beliefs and values for anything else. Therefore, if you wish to keep these people in your life, make sure to give them the desired respect. Else, ISTPs will feel stressed out being with you guys.
Ways to Cope with Stress in ISTP Personality
When ISTPs come under stressful situations, they tend to showcase certain characteristics that are not in tune with their type of personality. It would give others the impression that you are only a shadow of your true self.
You might see them defaulting to other individuals. Opinions of others could seem far more trustworthy than that of your own. It is also possible that you could start behaving emotionally and let practicality take the backseat.
Under normal circumstances, you do not bother much about criticism. You will try to stay away from critical individuals. Unfortunately, when you are under stress, you would start reacting sensitively to even minor criticisms.
These changes can truly hamper ISTPs’ relationships with others, hence impacting their lifestyle to a great extent. Like every problem in this world has a solution, the same thing applies to ISTPs’ stress as well.
People of this personality must learn some self-help strategies to stay conscious of their feelings and emotions. At the same time, they should try to keep things under control.
Coping mechanisms vary based on your Myers Briggs personality type. Let us now discuss some of the ways through which an ISTP person deals with stress –
1. Spend Some Time Alone
When an ISTP person comes under stress, they need to get away from people and start dealing with their problems alone. They are independent individuals who like having space when things start bothering them.
Spending time alone helps channel their thoughts in the right direction and work on them to get the right results. The clarity they get from non-interference not only helps solve their internal issues but also prevents the further escalation of stress.
2. Reject Some Unimportant Responsibilities
ISTPs always flourish on unplanned and unstructured patterns of life. They will feel free from stress when they manage to strike out some of the responsibilities from their list.
Minimizing their duties and getting away from the practical problems of the world for some time can help them find a proper balance.
It is also possible that an ISTP comes under a lot of stress, due to which they regularly start pulling themselves away from their duties and loved ones.
When that happens, ISTPs might require some counseling or must change their lifestyle to minimize stress and ensure a fulfilling life.
3. Engage in Regular Workouts
When an ISTP is under stress, they might feel as if they have become overloaded with the rush of adrenaline and pent-up emotions.
In this situation, doing regular workouts can come of great help. It can make them take out some of that energy in a healthy manner.
Exercises also allow these individuals to get access to their Extraverted Sensing function. This holds great importance as the use of Sensing helps take them out of their inferior function, especially if they experience grips stress. It can assist in normalizing their perspective.
4. Involve Yourself in Light Problem-Solving Activities
Stressed-out ISTPs might become so overwhelmed in their attempt to solve a major problem that they could struggle to find the right balance. Now, how to come out of it? As an ISTP, you can engage yourself in some light problem-solving activities.
Indulging in all these leisurely activities can help ISTPs in regaining control over their dominant function, i.e., Introverted Thinking. They can finally get relief from stress, relax, and spend quality time in their life.
5. Eating Healthy Food
Another effective way through which ISTPs can get rid of stress is by eating healthy, nutritious food. It can naturally help to reduce their stress level. Yogurt, green leafy vegetables, blueberries, salmon, and pistachios can provide relief from stress and keep them healthy.
Eating manages to engage ISTP’s auxiliary sensing function. Automatically, it will get them out of excessive usage of their dominant function, which is Introverted Thinking. You will manage to get so engrossed in enjoying your food that it will leave no scope for them to bother about stuff causing stress.
6. Talk to a Responsible Friend Who Will Hear Out Without Judgment
When a person is under stress, the usual tendency is to remain aloof from others and think out a solution that can help her attain relief.
The same applies to an ISTP. As the stressful situation gradually subsides, they might feel like sharing their sentiments with a trustworthy person.
Talking to a close friend, who is responsible, stays calm, and behaves rationally can help you gain invaluable input. He or she will make you believe that your response to a situation is okay and help you adopt a forgiving approach toward someone responsible for this stressful scenario.
7. Engage in Sexual relationships
A person with the ISTP personality type is quite a sensory and action-oriented individual. When they experience a stressful situation, they might start feeling overwhelmed with certain uncontrollable emotions.
In this situation, connecting with a spouse intimately can help take them out of their inferior feeling function (Fe).
Sex will slowly help you shift toward the auxiliary sensing function (Se). It is one way to avoid reacting to a stressful situation.
Remember, this is applicable only if the sexual relationship is a responsible one. Any impulsive sexual act to derive pleasure will not do any good to an ISTP.
Some Other Coping Skills
Some other ways can help you effectively tackle stress. They are as follows:
- Try to make good use of your time and manage the same wisely.
- Whenever you feel stressed out, resort to deep breathing.
- Slowdown in the race of life and take one step at a time.
- Identify your passions and relentlessly follow them.
- Start saying no to things you do not want to do in life.
To Sum Up
We have talked about several stress triggers of the ISTP personality type and different ways to cope with them. These individuals need flexibility while dealing with people and various situations in life.
They must understand that every individual carries their perspective and should shape their personality to tackle adverse circumstances in life. Doing so will make their life peaceful.
