Often referred to as “mediators”, the INFP personality type is guided by core values, beliefs, and ideals. Consequently, INFPs are rarely interested in the mundane events of everyday life and have a stagnate way of thinking. So do these traits contribute to suicidal tendencies, and how could I help an INFP struggling with them?

Evidence suggests that INFPs are more prone to depression and suicidal thoughts compared to other personality types. Due to their introversion, these underlying thoughts and feelings may be hard to identify. You must seek immediate professional help if you suspect anyone may be suicidal.

To better understand why INFPs may be more prone to depression ad suicidal thoughts compared to other personality types, we will look at the main traits of INFPs to try and determine why this may be the case. Where after, we will look at ways you can help somebody who may be suffering from suicidal thoughts and feelings.

What Are The Main Traits Of INFPS?

There are six positive traits INFPs typically possess:

  1. INFPs are empathetic,
  2. INFPs are generous,
  3. INFPs are open-minded,
  4. INFPs are creative,
  5. INFPs are passionate,
  6. INFPs are idealistic.

1. INFPs Are Empathetic

INFPs are empathic people who enjoy learning about the struggles of others and their viewpoints so that they can assist in building interpersonal relationships and contributing to the overall happiness of their communities.

Consequently, they are often in tune with their surroundings and emotions and are prone to adopting and feeling the emotions and energy around them (which can include harmful thoughts and feelings.)

2. INFPs Are Generous

INFPs are generous people who feel fulfilled when their successes, knowledge, wisdom, and skills can be distributed to the community, rather than hoarding these benefits for their gain alone.

Therefore, INFPs are not comfortable with seeing injustice around them and will often sacrifice their own gains for the benefit of others – even if this comes at an emotional cost.

3. INFPs Are Open-Minded

INFPs are interested and passionate about engaging in abstract ideas like justice, fate, love, hope, and ambition. Consequently, they are open-minded people that enjoy challenging their own belief systems through open and honest engagement with other people and ideas.

4. INFPs Are Creative

Although INFPs are often concerned with grander ideas and complex socio-political topics, they often choose to engage with serious topics in a fun and creative ways.

Consequently, INFPs tend to be creative people that harness their emotions and understanding of more significant issues to improve the creative process.

5. INFPs Are Passionate

Although INFPs are introverted people, they are passionate people that enjoy pushing their creative and logical skills to the limit when faced with ideas and challenges that interest them.

When their passionate energies are not met with equal enthusiasm or dismissed by uncaring and dissenting voices, this can often lead to a sense of isolation, diminished self-worth, and feelings of depression among INFPs.

6. INFPs Are Idealistic

Above all else, INFPs are idealistic people that firmly believe that collaborative efforts among like-minded people can bring about positive change in their communities.

While this often makes INFPs prime candidates for leadership positions and vessels for positive change in a community, they can also become disheartened when their goals and ambitions are dismissed by the communities that they are trying to serve.

What Are Some Weaknesses Of INFPS?

There are six weaknesses INFPs typically possess:

  1. INFPs are unrealistic,
  2. INFPs are self-isolating,
  3. INFPs are unfocused,
  4. INFPs are emotionally vulnerable,
  5. INFPs are people pleasers, 
  6. INFPs are self-critical.

1. INFPs Are Unrealistic

Because INFPs are idealistic people, they can sometimes set goals and targets that many people would consider unrealistic or impossible. Consequently, this negative side to ambition can result in INFPs having their goals and dreams dismissed by the very community they wish to serve.

2. INFPs Are Self-Isolating

As introverts, most INFPs prefer to work alone and do not enjoy working with others. While this is not an inherently negative trait, as it indicates a confident personality type, the ambitions of INFPs may require levels of cooperation that they are unwilling to participate in.

Consequently, INFPs that want to see their goals come to fruition are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and work with others to achieve their goals, even if that means relinquishing some duties and responsibilities of a project to others.

3. INFPs Are Unfocused

Because INFPs are disinterested in the finer details, instead preferring to pursue projects and goals that interest them on a grand scale, they can become unfocused and disorganized.

Consequently, being unfocused and disorganized may lead to goals left unfulfilled and a sense of chaos and limited progression.

Whereby finding oneself in a stagnant position without a clear way out of one’s position can lead to feelings of loneliness, isolation, and despair when not adequately addressed.

4. INFPs Are Emotionally Vulnerable

Although INFPs are not particularly social people, they do exhibit a lot of empathy when they choose to open themselves up to others. Consequently, INFPs often find themselves in positions where they are emotionally vulnerable and subconsciously adopt the feelings and emotions of others.

Although being emotionally vulnerable allows people to empathize and assist others while mirroring positive emotions such as happiness and optimism, it also opens the door to adopting negative emotions such as grief and sadness.

Therefore, while INFPs are empathetic and generous people that naturally want to assist others, it is important for INFPs to realize when they are sacrificing too much for other people.

Whereby a failure to charge one’s emotional batteries can lead INFPs to a position where they may be emotionally vulnerable and in danger of overexerting themselves at the cost of their own happiness!

5. INFPs Are People Pleasers

INFPs do not enjoy conflict and often choose to pursue peace and harmony among groups of people.

Unfortunately, this pursuit of peace and harmony means that INFPs may be uncomfortable scolding and or reprimanding people, even when it is deserved.

Furthermore, INFPs that are uncomfortable reprimanding others for their actions may be taken advantage of by people who know they can bully INFPs into positions that make them uncomfortable.

Therefore, it is important for INFPs to identify when they are being taken advantage of or when they see injustices, where they should seek the assistance of others to help them take a stand against these injustices (even if making a stand comes at the cost of interpersonal relationships or peace and harmony within a community.)

6. INFPs Are Self-Critical 

Finally, INFPs believe in their unique potential and ability to engage with complex thoughts and ideas and how to make these idealistic goals become a reality (despite some people’s arguments to the contrary.)

However, INFPs often put themselves under enormous pressure in pursuit of these ambitious goals, which can manifest into self-doubt and criticism – especially if they make themselves emotionally vulnerable to external criticism, pessimism, and doubt.

Are INFPs More Prone To Suicidal Thoughts And Depression?

Because feelings of suicide and depression involve complex social, political, physical, and neurological forces, it cannot be said with certainty that any one personality group may be more or less prone to depression and suicide than others.

That being said, studies of INFPs and people that exhibit similar personality traits like high levels of empathy, ambition, and self-criticism often find themselves in positions where they are left emotionally vulnerable.

Consequently, it is this emotional vulnerability and the overwhelming desire to assist people in what can be a cruel and uncaring world that may result in some INFPs experiencing feelings of suicide and depression.

How To Identify Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviour

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors can manifest in various ways depending on the individual. While some of them may be pretty obvious, some may be almost impossible to identify.

Consequently, one should always remain vigilant and willing to assist others should any of the following signs and symptoms be present:

  • A person talking about wanting to die or inflict harm upon themselves,
  • A person talking about feelings of emptiness, sadness, or despair,
  • A person explaining how they see no way going forward from their problems,
  • A person expressing feelings of guilt or shame about themselves and their experiences,
  • A person believing life for other people would be better without them,
  • Extended withdrawal and isolation,
  • Abusing drugs and alcohol,
  • Giving away personal belongings and finalizing multiple loose ends,
  • Unusual changes in behavior and outbursts of emotion,
  • Excessive tiredness, lethargy, and disrupted sleeping patterns,
  • A notable disinterest in work, studying, and things that used to give them joy,
  • Remaining closed off and emotionally distant among friends and family,
  • A refusal to seek professional help or to discuss their problems with loved ones,
  • Accessing lethal objects such as a gun or an excessive amount of medication,
  • Experiencing unexplained physical pain.

What Factors May Increase The Likelihood Of Suicidal Thoughts?

Although there are many factors that can result in someone experiencing feelings of depression and suicide, the following are some common triggers for suicidal thoughts and behaviors:

  • People who have lost a spouse or loved one,
  • People with a family history of suicide and depression,
  • People who have been diagnosed with a mental illness,
  • People who have attempted suicide and self-harm in the past,
  • People who have lost a friend or family member to suicide,
  • People who are in extreme financial distress,
  • People who may be awaiting criminal prosecution or sentencing,
  • People who have been subject to a recent traumatic life event,
  • People who have recently received a traumatic head injury,
  • People who have been diagnosed with a long-term terminal illness,
  • People who have been diagnosed with an ongoing pain disorder,
  • People suffering from PTSD,
  • People who have recently left the military or an active combat zone,
  • People with a history of drug and alcohol abuse,
  • People with a history of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse,
  • Young people who may be experiencing excessive bullying,
  • People with extremely low self-confidence or body dysmorphia,
  • People who are struggling to reach their personal, financial, relationship, or work goals,
  • People who have recently suffered a miscarriage or a similar terminated pregnancy,
  • People who have recently been discharged from a psychiatric or rehabilitation facility,
  • People with extremely stressful jobs or who work with terminally ill people,
  • People who have been the subject of racism and prejudice,
  • People who are prone to violent or impulsive behavior.

It is vital to note that the above list is not an exhaustive list, as there are many instances where suicidal thoughts and depression can manifest in the absence of external factors or a history of mental illness.  

What To Do If You Think Someone Is Suicidal?

Although assisting someone with suicidal thoughts can prove challenging, there are a few things you can do to assist someone struggling with suicidal thoughts and depression:

  • Explicitly ask them if they are struggling with suicidal thoughts and depression,
  • Assist them with contacting a professional if they are not already seeing one,
  • Encourage their progress and never dismiss their feelings as invalid,
  • Remind them that they are worthy and loved by their friends and family,
  • Always allow for open and honest communication channels at all times,
  • Assist them with doing healthy things they enjoy like exercising or playing a sport,
  • Do not encourage negative behaviors like consuming drugs and alcohol.

What Should I Do If I See Immediate Warning Signs Of Suicide?

Should you find yourself in a situation where there are immediate warning signs of suicidal behavior and a person may be in imminent danger, there are a few steps you must take:

  • Do not leave the person alone and unsupervised,
  • Ask the person to hand over any lethal objects like a sharp blade or firearm,
  • If the person is already in psychiatric treatment, contact a health professional immediately,
  • Try to keep the person as calm as possible,
  • Contact emergency services,
  • Contact a local suicide prevention hotline.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while INFPs are profoundly empathetic and loving people, these positive traits can manifest into negative feelings if INFPs become emotionally vulnerable.

Fortunately, there are professional services which can help you care for and protect loved ones that may be suffering from suicidal thoughts and depressive states.

Similar Posts