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Why are INFPs so unhappy? (5 reasons)

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Page last updated: 09/01/2022 | Next review date: 09/01/2024
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This blog post aims to answer the question, “Why are INFPs so unhappy?” and explore the various dimensions of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality type named INFP that will help understand the answer. 

Why are INFPs so unhappy?

INFPs are so unhappy because of the following 5 reasons –

  • INFPs relate to sadness and isolation.
  • INFPs find sadness compelling.
  • INFPs believe sadness connects everybody.
  • INFPs like to feel.
  • INFPs get sad easily and often.

These 5 reasons why INFPs are so unhappy will be discussed in further detail below after taking a deeper look at what INFP means. 

Who is an INFP?

The INFP personality type was developed by Katharine Briggs and Isabel Myers, the authors of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®). INFP stands for Introversion, iNtuition, Feeling, and Perceiving, which are four key personality qualities based on C.G. Jung’s work.

Each of the four letters of the INFP code represents a significant personality feature of the INFP personality type. 

INFPs are stimulated by alone time (Introverted), focus on ideas and concepts rather than facts and specifics (iNtuitive), base their decisions on feelings and values (Feeling), and like to be spontaneous and flexible rather than planned and structured (Perceiving).

Because of their empathetic idealism and gentle concern for others, the INFP personality type is often known as the “Healer.” The INFP is also known by the following nicknames:

  • The Thoughtful Idealist (MBTI)
  • The Mediator (16Personalities)

An INFP prefers an unstructured and free-spirited lifestyle. INFP is an introverted and ultra-creative Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality type. The INFP is sensitive, creative, and loyal to their values.

INFPs are creative idealists who are guided by their primary ideals and beliefs. A Healer who is preoccupied with possibilities; the actuality of the time is merely a fleeting concern. INFPs see the possibility of a brighter future and seek truth and purpose in their own unique way.

INFPs are sensitive, loving, and compassionate people who are highly concerned with their own and others’ personal progress. INFPs are individualistic and nonjudgmental, believing that each person must forge their own path. 

INFPs like spending time investigating their own ideas and ideals, and they gently encourage others to do the same. INFPs are creative and frequently artistic; they like discovering new ways to express themselves.   

INFP Personality Type Characteristics Are –

  • INFPs are introverts who are quiet and reserved. INFPs find that being in social situations depletes their energy, thus they prefer to connect with a small number of close pals. While they like being alone, this should not be mistaken for timidity. Rather, it simply implies that INFPs get energy from alone time. INFPs must, on the other hand, devote energy to social circumstances.
  • INFPs rely on intuition and are more concerned with the overall picture than the finer points of a situation. INFPs can be quite thorough about things that are important to them or tasks they are working on, yet they tend to overlook little or insignificant details.
  • INFPs value personal sentiments above everything else and their actions are affected more by these concerns than by objective data.
  • INFPs prefer to keep their choices open when it comes to making decisions. INFPs frequently put off making key judgments in case the circumstance changes. The majority of judgments are made based on personal ideals rather than reasoning.

What are these 5 reasons why INFPs are so unhappy?

INFPs relate to sadness and isolation.

The majority of INFPs have spent their lives feeling isolated, misunderstood, or pushed into a mould that doesn’t fit them.

Many INFPs connect with feelings of isolation, loneliness, and heartbreak. They empathise with that anguish and find a cathartic release in doing so. The INFP makes a loyal friend by expressing pain and loneliness. 

An image of a lonely, isolated hut might be a sign of desire and loneliness for INFPs who have felt alone and cut off from the world for most of their lives.

INFPs who have discovered camaraderie and connection in life is nonetheless drawn to grief for its honesty and authenticity. They may feel obliged mysteriously to comprehend, sympathise, and console.

INFPs find sadness compelling.

INFPs care passionately about others who are suffering. According to the MBTI® Manual, Third Edition, INFPs have a significant preference for employment in psychology and counselling. 

They are extremely empathic people who want to “walk in another person’s shoes” and feel their sufferings and problems as if they were their own. 

They have no interest in a sugarcoated life or what’s on the surface, both seek to gain a deeper more intimate understanding of the deeper longings and struggles of humanity.

Sometimes INFPs could even relish being miserable, feeling it makes them more of a typical “upset” artist, while the fact is when artists are depressed they tend not to produce very much of their finest work. INFPs as a group need to learn to be content regardless of their surroundings.

INFPs believe sadness connects everybody.

INFPs are natural introverts, yet as emotional types, they yearn for meaningful human interactions. However, they frequently struggle to discover the depth they need in partnerships. 

They sense a unified vulnerability in melancholy that they can identify to and comprehend. They believe that sharing their pain and suffering with others brings them closer together and strengthens their bonds.

INFPs like to feel.

INFPs like empathising with others. They enjoy immersing themselves in various emotions. They appreciate empathising, comprehending, and feeling. 

They are usually terrific listeners who love being there for others, but if they are continuously taking on other people’s feelings, they might get emotionally overwhelmed. 

They are fulfilled when they can listen to and connect with others who are in distress, but they must do it in moderation. They might like just connecting with sad art forms or ideas that elicit intense emotions. 

They prefer to lose themselves in a melancholy song or movie, a sad book, or a sad picture. To many of them, being able to quietly experience and connect with the emotions of a tale or work of art just “feels good.”

INFPs get sad easily and often.

An INFP’s dark side might be a sad and lonely one. INFPs are prone to making decisions based on their emotions. This is due to the fact that they frequently feel a great deal and quite powerfully.

Because of how deep their sentiments may be, INFPs are prone to becoming overly emotional. They can appreciate nights out with friends laughing or when someone tells them they helped them out by listening to them because of those sentiments. 

It may, however, make negative situations feel overpowering. Long sobbing and burying themselves in blankets because they don’t want to get out of bed are nothing new to INFPs. 

They might quickly slip into a dark hole and have suicidal or depressing thoughts. It is crucial that INFPs take care of themselves and discover techniques to aid themselves through their emotions. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s crucial to reach out to people.

INFPs have a hard time feeling cheerful. Instead of enjoying the joys of everyday life and the enjoyment it may provide, they require catastrophic occurrences of bliss to make them feel pleased, such as having their dreams come true. 

They’re also extremely critical of themselves, so they’re rarely satisfied with what they accomplish.

Conclusion – 

This blog post aimed to answer the question, “Why are INFPs so unhappy?” and reviewed the features and functions of the introverted and extremely inventive Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality type named INFP to help determine why INFPs are so unhappy. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or comments you may have.

References –

Albers, N. 4 Reasons Why INFPs Like Sad Things. Introvert, Dear. (2018, July 24). Retrieved from https://introvertdear.com/news/infp-personality-drawn-to-sadness/#:~:text=Personal%20growth%20is%20very%20important,and%20are%20forced%20to%20grow.&text=They’re%20drawn%20to%20sadness,to%20change%20their%20life%20somehow.

Why are INFPs drawn to sadness? Quora. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/Why-are-INFPs-drawn-to-sadness

Is INFP the most sad and pathetic type? Reddit. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/infp/comments/323f2b/is_infp_the_most_sad_and_pathetic_type/

Storm, S. Why INFPs and INFJs Are Drawn to Sad Things. (2017, April 18). Retrieved from https://www.psychologyjunkie.com/2017/04/18/infps-infjs-drawn-sad-things/

Stafford, S. INFP Depression & Struggles: How the INFP Handles Depressed Feelings. (2019, July 13). Retrieved from https://personalitygrowth.com/infp-depression-struggles-how-the-infp-handles-depressed-feelings/

The Dark Side of INFPs. The Lost INFP. (2016, October 21). Retrieved from http://thelostinfp.com/the-dark-side-of-infps/

Corin. Happiness is a choice and so is unhappiness. (2009, April 7).  INFP Blog. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.infpblog.com/happiness-is-a-choice-and-so-is-unhappiness

Why are INFPs so dissatisfied in relationships? Personality Cafe. (2013, April 11). Retrieved from https://www.personalitycafe.com/threads/why-are-infps-so-dissatisfied-in-relationships.142562/

INFP Personality and Depression (A Comprehensive Guide). OptimistMinds. (2022, January 29). Retrieved from https://optimistminds.com/infp-and-depression/

Anne Lee and The Rambles of a Dreamer. Things That Make INFPs Gloomy. WordPress. (2018, March 19). Retrieved from https://dreamerrambling.wordpress.com/tag/what-makes-an-infp-sad/