MBTI Stress

Mounting stress and pressure can lead to a complete and epic unraveling of our psychological fabric that gives way to a side of ourselves that others despise. How we respond to that stress and the types of stress we are sensitive to will vary from person to person. In the Myers Briggs type theory, each personality type manifests signs of stress in ways particular to them and the sources and causes of it will differ as well. Although there are life conditions that everyone finds to be stressful, the stress responses of some types can be triggered by events and circumstances that a different type may experience as desirable and energizing.

INTP

Under extreme stress, INTPs will become hyper critical of other’s expectations and demands, while simultaneously craving their affection and appreciation. INTP’s thoughts will grow increasingly complicated and disconnected from objective reality, instead focusing on largely subjective and paranoid interpretations of the events occurring around them. Frustrations will lead INTPs to develop various phobias and psychosomatic fears, becoming uncharacteristically concerned with their physical health and the effect that their environment can have on it

When stressed out, INTP’s intense emotions will come to the surface. Major triggers for this include having their need for space and introversion violated and disrespected (ex. others intruding on their space and uninvited visitors), or having their principles and convictions trampled on. Under these circumstances, INTPs will likely find themselves “in the grip” of their inferior function, Extraverted Feeling. At this point, INTPs are likely to behave completely out of character. They will become more emotionally engaged and obsessed with their logic and will be more argumentative, while at the same time becoming increasingly disorganized and forgetful of mundane matters. INTPs may become hypersensitive and take insignificant details and remarks more personally than normal. They may develop the belief that others dislike or hate them, and they may become uncharacteristically emotional and bitter.

Stressors:

Being boxed in and constrained by responsibilities
Being forced to do un-challenging and repetitive work
Working with incompetent, chatty people
Teamwork
Supervising others and monitoring their work
Too much extraverting
Emotionally charged situations
Being underappreciated for their abilities and contribution
People invading their space
INTP money issues

Stress Response:

Withdrawal and quietness; increased irritability
Excessive thinking and cogitating with emphasis on logic; paralysis of analysis
Intellectually combative and increasingly insensitive to emotional climate
Emotional outbursts
Feelings of not being liked or appreciated
Forgetfulness, disorganization, confusion
Passive aggressiveness
Sarcastic and mean remarks
Vagueness, distractibility, disorganization

INTJ

Typically INTJ’s get peeved and discontented in environments where their intellectual prowess is not valued or appreciated. INTJs get drained in places full of noisy, boisterous people and when being forced to extravert themselves too much with little to no “alone time” to replenish their energy. INTJs will also have little patience when working with people they deem to be lazy and incompetent. They quickly tire of tasks that require ample attention to detail with specific repetitive procedures and methods.

INTJs are accustomed to living in their internal world at the expense of their physical and emotional needs. Romantic feelings can take them by surprise and destabilize their psychological balance. Because they feel their emotional impulses threaten their sense of self-control they often resort to denial of their existence and attempt to rationalize their emotions with logic and principles that do not even apply.

Stressors:

Noisy boisterous environments
Lazy incompetent co-workers
Meticulous robotic work
New environments
Having to change their plans
Too much focus on the present
Not enough time to think ahead

Stress Response:

Withdraw into the inner world of images and possibilities; become quiet
Stubbornness and increased irritability
Become very busy; focus on low priority tasks
Become obsessively concerned with detail;paralysis of analysis
Angry and critical at people and/or things
Over focused on gratifying the senses
Elitism; “I know everything, you know nothing”
Overdoing sensory activities like drinking, cleaning, working out etc.
Intense anger
INTJ depression

ENTP

In most cases, ENTPs will be averse to environments wherever creativity is restricted or stifled. ENTPs become stressed when they are deprived of external stimulation, denied autonomy, or are forced to commit themselves to binding decisions for which they have little wiggle room. They are also stressed by environments that do not appreciate their originality and clever ideas.

When stressed, ENTPs will become flighty and will start to look for the nearest exit for fear that their freedom is at stake. They become impulsive and coquettish and justify their behavior so as to avoid perceived entrapment. ENTPs become increasingly defiant as pressure and responsibilities mount while at the same becoming ever more dependent on others to help them with managing various aspects of their duties.

Stressors:

Lack of external stimulus
Feeling restricted and controlled
Having their creativity stifled
Being forced to make long term decisions
Working with individuals they view as incompetent
Having their cleverness go unappreciated
Having their principles violated
Working with mundane details
Overextending themselves

Stress Response:

Excessive flow of exciting new ideas without evaluation
Increased impatience, irritability, frankness, insensitivity, and debating
Over-involvement in numerous activities; stretched thin
Become obsessive, picky, and compulsive
Withdrawal, immobility, depression
Excessive and exaggerated worry about bodily sensations
Anxiety
Irritability, upset about insignificant things
Self-deprecation

ENTJ

When experiencing stress, ENTJs may fall “under the grip” of their inferior function, Introverted Feeling. This may emerge in response to intense emotions stemming from guilt over criticism of others, or having their strong values and/or feelings violated. When this happens, ENTJs are likely to exhibit behavior that is unlike them including uncharacteristic emotional outbursts and isolating themselves away from others while they try to restore control over their psychological balance.

ENTJs are inclined to believe that the source of their distress lies outside of themselves and therefore they’re quick to blames others for their problems. They perceive other people as being needy and illogical, and also systems and organizations as inefficient and hindering. Everything and everyone seems to be holding them back, therefore they feel compelled to take matters into their own hands and set things right.

Stressors:

Disruptions to their plans.
A Lack of results despite their hard efforts
Feeling incompetent
Lazy unmotivated people
Being in a subordinate roles
Inability to realize their goals
Hypersensitive emotional people
Feelings of guilt for criticizing others
Having their values and principles violated
Idleness and wasting of time.
Missed opportunities

Stress Response:

Excessive criticism; categorical negative judgments about people and events
Increased irritability, sense of pressure and anxiety, impatience, and insensitivity
Increasing tunnel vision and difficulty listening to input from others
Feeling out of control; distress at possibly losing control
Strong emotional outbursts; feelings of vulnerability; withdrawal
Excessive sensitivity to feeling alone, left out, unappreciated
Sadism, not caring or not being aware when crushing other people’s feelings
Viewing others as weak
Closed mindedness, not willing to accept any alternatives

INFP

When experiencing stress overload, which may come from a gross or frequent violation of their deeply held values, spending time in an emotionally toxic and/or excessively critical environment, or worrying that they are about to lose someone or something (relationship, task, etc.) close to them, INFPs may find themselves “in the grip” of their inferior function, Extraverted Thinking. During this experience, the individual is likely to do things that are typically completely out of character.

INFPs usually dislike conflict and are prone to acting in a passive-aggressive way when they experience frustration or dissatisfaction. They are deeply dedicated to being their ‘true selves’, to the extent that they will avoid any people or situations that do not fit in with their inner value system, tending to become rather intolerant and hard to please. As stress increases, they may become extremely whimsical and stubborn, insisting on acting as they feel but ignoring the logical consequences and implications of their actions.

Stressors:

Inflexible schedules and routines
Violations of their values
Being in rowdy boisterous environments
Extraverting themselves too much
small talk and glib exchanges
disingenuous people
restrictions to their creativity
being tied down and working on highly detailed tasks

Stress Response:

Withdraw, become preoccupied; begin noticing difficulty sleeping and increased eating
Become hypersensitive to imagined slights
Avoid or put off actions that might create discomfort or conflict
Become extremely critical of others
May find self or others to be terribly incompetent
Exaggerated and impulsive directing or organizing of environment or others
Hopelessness, sadness
Martyr-like attitude
Loss of confidence and motivation

INFJ

When faced with stress overload, which may come from dealing with unfamiliar environments with overwhelming amounts of details, having to extravert too much or in uncomfortable ways, or having their well settled plans disrupted, INFJs may find themselves “in the grip” of their inferior function, Extraverted Sensing. In this state, the individual is likely to do things that are typically completely out of character. This may include over doing it on the pleasures of the senses by binge-eating, over-exercising, buying lots of useless items, etc..

INFJs tend to withdraw from reality into a fantasy world of their own, which gradually gains importance as they become dissatisfied with their real life and the people in it. While fulfilling the demands of their outer commitments, they harbor secret criticism and the feeling that their imaginary world and the characters that inhabit it are more important than the actual people in their lives.

Stressors:

discord in their relationships
violations of their values
excessive extraverting
Being amongst close-minded people
Feeling under appreciated and under-valued
Adjusting to new environments
disruptions to their plans
Lack of direction and purpose
Disharmony and conflict

Stress Response:

Withdraw into the inner world of images and possibilities; become quiet
Moodiness and perfectionism
Become very busy; focus on low priority tasks
Become obsessively concerned with detail; feeling out of control
Angry and critical at people and/or things
Over focused on gratifying the senses
Elitism; “I know everything, you know nothing”
Overdoing sensory activities like drinking, cleaning, working out etc.
Intense anger

ENFP

When confronted with stressful situations, which may come from working in environments where their values are violated, having to focus for long periods of time on mundane details, and good old fashion exhaustion (often caused by overextending oneself), ENFPs may find themselves “in the grip” of their inferior function, Introverted Sensing. During this experience, the individual is likely to do things that are typically completely out of character such as splitting hairs over petty details and a reluctance to try anything new. This may include a reduced creativity and withdrawing into themselves and becoming depressed.

ENFPs in distress tend to feel overloaded and overwhelmed by too much to do. They feel they’re trying to help others and make their lives better but their efforts are unappreciated and there are always more expectations and demands. In such situations, ENFPs are likely to start shirking their responsibilities, forgetting their appointments or being late for the deadlines.

Stressors:

micromanaging and being micromanaged
being forced to focus on the here and now
having to follow restrictive regimens and routines
not being allowed to be creative
lack of external stimulus
fulfilling deadlines
Criticism
Lack of appreciation
Working within a highly structured, rigid, detail-oriented environment
Being required to do something that violates your values
Feeling distrusted, disrespected, ignored, not recognized
Receiving criticism about yourself or what you have created
Finding that you are unable to fulfill the multiple demands you have taken on yourself

Stress Response:

Excessive flow of exciting new ideas without evaluation
Increasing disorganization, impatience, and forgetfulness
Over-involvement in numerous activities;stretched thin
Become obsessive, picky, and compulsive
Withdrawal and isolation with depression
Excessive and exaggerated worry about bodily sensations
Anxiety
Irritability, upset about insignificant things
Self-deprecation
Obsessing about irrelevant details and facts
Focusing excessively on their body, imagining that they have some dire illness
Being irritable, snappish, impatient
Feeling depressed, hopeless; withdrawing
Failing to see any possibilities beyond their current, dismal reality
Being pessimistic and incapable of seeing the big picture
Engaging in inflexible, rigid thinking

ENFJ

When faced with stress overload, which may come from being expected to conform with something that goes against their values, spending time in an emotionally toxic, combative, and/or excessively critical environment, or being in an environment where there is a basic lack of trust between individuals, ENFJs may find themselves “in the grip” of their inferior function, Introverted Thinking. When this occurs, the individual is likely to do things that are typically completely out of character such as exhibiting indecision and excessive procrastination and overthinking. They may also lash out at others, and become overly critical of mistakes committed by both themselves and others.

ENFJs are likely to start feeling somewhat disappointed with the relationships they worked so hard to build. They experience a lack of enthusiasm and passion about the people around them and as a consequence they feel guilty about it, believing that they’re losing themselves and letting down their loved ones. Acutely concerned with being seen as empathetic, loving people and highly sensitive to rejection and criticism, they strive to maintain appearances even though deep inside they may feel rather joyless.

Stressors:

disharmony
obstructions to their plans
deadlines
intense environments and working conditions
boring repetitive tasks
having to conform and go against their standards
absorbing other people’s stress
Being misunderstood or mistrusted
fear of not living up to their potential

Stress Response:

Over attentive to others’ feelings—trying to make things “right” with others or trying to fix others’ perceived difficulties
Inflexibility and increasing difficulty seeing/trying new approaches
Begin noticing physical symptoms of stress;appetite disturbances
Extreme criticism, even condemnation, of others based on small events
Black-and-white thinking, confusion, needing assurance of the “one” right answer
Withdrawal, criticism of self, lack of concern for your impact on others
Feeling unappreciated, taken for granted
General sadness, withdrawal
Frequent mood swings

ISFJ

When laden with stress overload, which may come from dealing with unfamiliar territory and uncertain futures, dealing with others who seem to work outside of the current reality, or having to overuse their type by being expected to constantly act as “the responsible one”, ISFJs may find themselves “in the grip” of their inferior function, Extraverted Intuition. During this experience, the individual is likely to do things that are typically completely out of character such as perceiving slights and offenses that are more imagined than actual. They may also become at odds with the facts and details they normally depend on. to the extent such details are interpreted as being ominous.

ISFJs have the tendency to lose themselves in emotional and moral commitments, seeing themselves as indispensable to and intrinsic part of the cause they’ve identified with. At this point they can become self-sacrificing martyrs whose only purpose is the happiness and well-being of others. They can end up in bad relationships where they’re willingly being used and put in a service-oriented position. As their stress increases they begin to cling to people and try to keep them attached by undermining their independence and offering them unconditional care and support instead.

Stressors:

feeling under appreciated and under valued
tense environments
tight deadlines
being overloaded with too many tasks
feeling like the only one who is responsible
dealing with abstract concepts
adjusting to new things, and people

Stress Response:

Nose to the grindstone; increased irritability and sense of pressure
Stubbornness; over focus on detail and organizing
Withdrawal and increased quietness; fatigue and other physical symptoms
Feelings of loss of control or confusion
Excessive doom saying; anticipation of only negative futures
Unusually impulsive behavior
General negativity
Blaming others without a reason
Unusual impulsivity and spontanity

ISTJ

When faced with stress overload, which may come from dealing with unfamiliar territory and uncertain futures, dealing with others who seem to work outside of the current reality, or having to overuse their type by being expected to constantly act as “the responsible one”, ISTJs may find themselves “in the grip” of their inferior function, Extraverted Intuition. During this experience, the individual is likely to do things that are typically completely out of character such as interpreting bizarre meanings and focusing on negative possibilities rather than the present reality.

As the pressure rises, they become increasingly intolerant of diversity and may start seeing other people as irresponsible and lacking appropriate standards and ethics. They try to take control of others and become stuck in limiting rules and regulations, afraid of change and taking any risks into the unknown.

Stressors:

dealing with problems for which their past experience is of no use
having to improvise
too much extraverting
emotionally intense situations
disorganized environments
tight dealines
deviating from established methods and trying new approaches
Being asked to do something without a plan or direction
being in unfamiliar surroundings

Stress Response:

Nose to the grindstone; increased irritability
Stubbornness; over focus on detail and organizing
Withdrawal and increased quietness
Feelings of loss of control or confusion
Excessive doom saying; anticipation of only negative futures
Unusually impulsive behavior
General negativity
Blaming others without a reason
Unusual impulsivity and spontanity

ESFJ

When faced with stress overload, which may come from being expected to conform with something that goes against their values, spending time in an emotionally toxic, combative, and/or excessively critical environment, or being in an environment where there is a basic lack of trust between individuals, ESFJs may find themselves “in the grip” of their inferior function, Introverted Thinking. During this experience, the individual is likely to do things that are typically completely out of character such as over-analyzing problems and exhibiting indecision. They may also become highly critical of others logic and thus lash out at them, focusing on their mistakes and perceived lack of competence, and flaws.

ESFJs usually keep their distress and inner conflicts away from public eye. They are terrified of being judged and criticized by others while on the other hand they can be highly intolerant of what they perceive as inappropriate behaviors. They begin to feel used and unappreciated by others and as their resentment grows, they are prone to rash and thoughtless actions that may end up damaging the relationships they care so much for.

Stressors:

lack of structure in the workplace
dealing with abstract concepts
interpersonal conflict
sudden changes to their plans
tight deadlines
disharmony in their relationships
conflicts and violations of their values
feeling unappreciated and unsupported by others
Criticism

Stress Response:

Over attentive to others’ feelings; trying to make things “right” with others or trying to fix others’ perceived difficulties
Inflexibility and increasing difficulty seeing or trying new approaches
Begin noticing physical symptoms of stress;appetite disturbances
Extreme criticism, even condemnation, of others based on small events
Black-and-white thinking, difficulty thinking clearly, confusion
Withdrawal, criticism of self, feeling inadequate
Feeling unappreciated, taken for granted
General sadness, withdrawal
Frequent mood swings

ESTJ

When burdened with stress, which may come from being confronted with intense emotions, feeling guilt over being critical towards others, or not having their strongly held values and/or feelings validated, ESTJs may find themselves “in the grip” of their inferior function, Introverted Feeling. When this happens, the individual is likely to do things that are typically completely uncharacteristic such as pontificating and exhibiting self righteous behavior. They may also have emotional outbursts and withdraw from others to conceal their emotional instability. ESTJs may become overly sensitive regarding their relationships and interpret tiny, inconsequential details as signs that others dislike or hate them.

ESTJs are likely to start viewing others as being overly subjective and weak, therefore consider that it’s time to take control and set things right. They can become domineering and uncompromising, imposing their viewpoint and considering their logic as the only valid standard. Craving personal contact and affection, but unable to give in to their emotional side, they blame others for being corrupt, subjective and disrespectful and a self-righteous anger takes over them. As the pressure becomes intolerable, psychological outlet valves open to release frustration in inappropriate ways: anger bursts, impulsive behaviors, excessive drinking or eating.

Stressors:

dealing with poorly organized situations
obstructions to their work
emotional and irrational people
incompetent people
sudden changes in their plans
adjusting to new surroundings
adopting new ways of doing things

Stress Response:

Excessive criticism; categorical negative judgments about people and events
Increasing difficulty listening to input from others
Irritability and intolerance of deviations from the rules
Strong emotional outbursts; feelings of vulnerability
Excessive sensitivity to feeling alone, left out, unappreciated
Withdrawal; hiding tension and feelings
Sadism, not caring or not being aware when crushing other people’s feelings
Viewing others as weak
Closed mindedness, not willing to accept any alternatives

ISFP

ISFPs will likely become stressed when they are denied time to spend alone, and they often struggle when they feel overwhelmed by demands placed upon them. They may find it difficult to be in situations where they are forced to do a great deal of specific, data driven, long term planning. ISFPs also tend to struggle in environments where they feel criticized or unappreciated. When faced with stress overload, which may come from a gross or frequent violation of their deeply held values, spending time in an emotionally toxic and/or excessively critical environment, or worrying that they are about to lose someone or something (relationship, task, etc.) close to them, ISFPs may find themselves “in the grip” of their inferior function, Extraverted Thinking.

ISFPs under distress will give a lot of importance to their personal freedom, their choices, their lifestyle and their subjective view of life. Feeling threatened by conforming and the prospect of giving up their ideals, they start rejecting other people’s help and advice, becoming increasingly defensive and dismissive. They may resort to sarcasm, become cryptic or derogatory. As frustration grows, they tend to isolate in order to escape outer influence on them, and live life on the edge of society, refusing to take any logical considerations into account and relying solely on their creative emotions and peculiar worldview.

Stressors:

transgression against their values
Too much extraverting.
excessive responsibilities and demands on their time
dealing with granular details
maintaining and organizing their schedules
Criticism
feeling unappreciated and under-valued
pressure to perform up to other’s standards

Stress Response:

Withdraw, become quiet, and begin noticing physical symptoms of stress
Become hypersensitive to imagined slights
Avoid or put off actions that might create discomfort or conflict
Become extremely critical of others
May find self or others to be terribly incompetent
Exaggerated and impulsive directing or organizing of environment or others
Hopelessness, sadness
Martyr-like attitude
Loss of confidence and motivation

ISTP

ISTPs like autonomy in work and are typically stressed by depending on or being in charge of the quality of another’s work. They also struggle in environments where they lack time alone to work, and/or where they are often immersed in emotionally charged environments. They may often find it difficult to be in situations where there is little challenge or variety in day to day tasks or in places where rules are rigidly enforced. When faced with stress overload, which may come from being confronted with intense emotions, having needs for space and introversion disregarded or disrespected (ex. others barging in without invitation or too frequently), or not having their strongly held values and/or feelings validated, ISTPs may find themselves “in the grip” of their inferior function, Extraverted Feeling.

ISTPs have the tendency to resist and reject any requests or situations that do not fit their natural views on life. Afraid of being controlled by others, they protect their freedom by cutting demanding people out of their lives and may start associating themselves solely with those who bear similar, usually antisocial outlooks on things. As the pressure increases, they are very likely to take rebellious stances against society and its organizational systems (government, political parties etc.), whose power they perceive as threatening to their independence.

Stressors:

Being in controlling relationships.
dealing with emotional irrational people
dealing with abstract theories and concepts
intense and emotionally charged people
Too much extraverting.
boring repetitive work
being underestimated or feeling under valued
having their values disregarded

Stress Resp0nse:

Withdrawal and quietness, increased irritability
Excessive thinking and cogitating with emphasis on logic; increasing insensitivity to others
Become very task-oriented and focused on busywork
Emotional outbursts
Feelings of not being liked or appreciated
Forgetfulness, disorganization, confusion
Passive aggressiveness
Sarcastic and mean remarks
Vagueness, distractibility, disorganization

ESFP

When faced with stress overload, which may come from being forced to make commitments or plans in advance, being forced to make decisions or eliminate options before they are ready, or having to spend a lot of time following someone else’s rules and/or schedules, ESFPs may find themselves “in the grip” of their inferior function, Introverted Intuition. During this experience, the individual is likely to do things that are typically completely out of character. This may include having fearful fantasies of the possibilities of impending doom swirling in their minds, like a tornado. They may begin to assign big meaning to small occurrences, and they may become uncharacteristically preoccupied with the meaning of life and the future of mankind or the universe.

ESFPs are likely to first experience depression and disinterest, as a result of diminished physical and emotional energy. They may become self-absorbed and indifferent towards other’s needs and finally may leave their current situation altogether, in search of a whole new alternative. As the psychological pressure increases, ESFPs may begin acting in a flighty, superficial manner, attracted to the satisfaction of the moment while disregarding the consequences of their actions.

Stressors:

having to plan for the future
being tied down by commitments and obligations
conflict and criticism
feeling not in control of their lives
doing things without clear directions or purpose
lack of physical stimulation
lack of human interaction
academics and school work
being stuck in one place for extended lengths of time

Stress Response:

Increased talkativeness; feeling confused and/or scattered
Begin noticing physical symptoms of stress; appetite disturbances
Excessive fun-seeking behaviors, and avoidance of issues that might create conflict
Increased pessimism and negativity; fears about the future
Feelings of confusion and self-doubt; worry and withdrawal
Over-interpreting the behavior of others as mean-spirited
Internal confusion
Losing touch with reality, sense of impending doom
Clinging onto worst case scenarios

ESTP

When under stress, which may come from being cornered into commitments or plans in advance, being forced to make decisions or eliminate options before they are ready, or having to spend a lot of time following someone else’s rules and/or schedules, ESTPs may find themselves “in the grip” of their inferior function, Introverted Intuition. During this experience, the individual is likely to do things that are typically completely out of character. This may include having fearful fantasies of negative outcomes. They may express paranoid suspicions of impending doom or conspiratorial plots against them.

ESTPs are used to dealing with their problems and frustrations by searching for more external stimulation and adventure. When their situation is causing them to feel disappointed and restless, ESTPs consider it is time to recreate their successful public persona, by either finding a new audience to charm or resorting to grand gestures that will reinforce their image and make them feel popular again. At the same time, their private life suffers from a deep sense of emptiness and intimacy becomes almost impossible as they become increasingly detached from true emotional connections.

Stressors:

feeling subjugated and beholden to others
performing tasks without adequate directions and resources
academic work
lack of external stimulus
being forced into commitments and decisions
having their options limited
not being allowed to act in the moment
negative low energy people

Stress Response:

Increased talkativeness, sense of pressure, and irritability
Increased frankness; insensitivity to people’s feelings
Rapid switching among activities; increased pleasure seeking
Fears of disaster and doom; deep significance given to minor events
Feelings of confusion and self-doubt; worry and withdrawal
Over-interpreting the behavior of others as mean-spirited
Internal confusion
Losing touch with reality, sense of impending doom
Clinging onto worst case scenarios

Author
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Jetta Moon

Jetta Moon is an artist, writer and astrology blogger with a passion for creativity and psychology. He is also an enthusiast of MBTI theory and loves to research and write about what he learns. Jetta's background in creative writing has helped develop a unique and insightful perspective on the zodiac, which he shares with readers of this blog.