Why INFJs are Prone to Anxiety/Depression

INFJs are the rarest personality type in the world. They make up about 1-3% of the population. This means they often go through life feeling different and like they don't belong in the world. They are empaths who feel things strongly. They are idealists. They are also perfectionists who set high standards for themselves and others. All of these factors put together makes someone with an INFJ personality prone to bouts of anxiety and depression.

Human beings are naturally social creatures. We need one another to survive, and we instinctively form tribes. A sense of belonging is even on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. So, when someone feels like they don't belong in the world, it can affect the person's health, especially mentally and emotionally. The AAMET International says that feeling different and not feeling like one belongs are often mixed with feelings of loneliness, deep sadness, abandonment, and rejection. These feelings often go hand-in-hand with both anxiety and depression. Feeling like there is something wrong with you and like you don't fit in the world has a negative effect on your self-esteem, and making up only a small percentage of the population can make you feel like nobody understands you and you're all alone.

What makes INFJs so unique is the way they view the world. INFJ stands for Introverted, iNtuitive, Feeling, Judging. An INFJ's dominant cognitive function is introverted intuition, which means that he or she perceives information unconsciously and can come to insights and conclusions seemingly out of nowhere. This can make it difficult for others to understand or accept the INFJ's intuition. An INFJ's auxiliary function, extraverted feeling, makes him or her extremely in tune with other people's emotions. This puts the INFJ in a weird limbo between introverted and extroverted. He or she cares a lot about people and wants to help them, but also needs time alone to recharge.

These, along with the rest of the INFJ's stack of cognitive functions, makes him or her think about and feel things very deeply. The INFJ enjoys spending time thinking about life's greatest questions, and they enjoy deep, meaningful conversations and relationships. Unfortunately, these are rare, which is lonely and isolating for the INFJ. The INFJ's dominant and auxiliary functions also make it easy to instinctively read people. INFJs can often tell if another person is being genuine or not, even if others don't see it, which can be very frustrating. Also, even if the INFJ can sense a toxic person, he or she can still get wrapped up in the toxic relationship because of extreme empathy.

Being an empath can take a huge toll on a person. You end up taking on other people's problems and bottle up your own, and you feel drained and alone, wondering why you care so much and if anyone cares about you. The thing about INFJs is that they don't just take on the problems of those around them; they take on the issues of the world. They can't listen to the news or scroll through Facebook without being affected by tragedy. They don't understand how people can be so cruel or why bad things keep happening. Empaths don't just listen to a story and feel bad for the person experiencing it; they actually feel as though they are going through it. So, INFJs can often feel like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders. It's enough to make anyone feel anxious about the world or hopeless about its fate.

This also makes them idealists. INFJs don't simply see the glass as half full or half empty; they see how it could be full, and they start planning ways to fill it up. This is a good thing because it makes them want to change the world, and they often do make the effort. The problem is that being an idealist can make them hopeful, and that means they easily get crushed if they see their efforts thwarted or see that they're not making as big a difference as they hoped. Trying to fix the problems of the world is a huge responsibility that can stress an INFJ out.

The INFJ is a huge perfectionist. While often seen as a good thing that drives perseverance and success, it is also known to cause problems such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, relationship problems, high stress, and even suicide. INFJs set near impossible standards for themselves and for those around them. They have a vision of how things should be, and they get very discouraged when it doesn't come true. They can't handle things going wrong or others disappointing them. They are easily frustrated when other people don't reach their standards, and that can lead to interpersonal issues and can even drive people away, making the INFJ even lonelier. Believe it or not, INFJs actually set even higher standards for themselves. When these standards aren't met, they become very angry with themselves, and that can lead to poor self-esteem and self-loathing.

It's no wonder INFJs are prone to anxiety and depression. They feel alone, they feel the weight of the world, and they are idealists and perfectionists. As an INFJ myself, I know how hard it can be to be one. That's why INFJs need to take care of themselves first and foremost. Learn to pay attention to your feelings, wants, and needs. Find ways to relax and try not to take on too much. Work on your self-esteem and learn to appreciate yourself and your relationships. INFJs are a unique gift to the world. If you struggle with anxiety and depression, get help from a professional as soon as possible.

This post was inspired by a blog post on Thought Catalog.