cybette's blog

It sounds right to me.
As an INFP,
I think I have all three.

(But Zoloft sure does help.)

Ditto.

double ditto

¡E INFP: God, help me to finish everything I sta missing a rt at the end i think

As someone diagnosed and treated for ADD, it was interesting to me that when reading my MB type (INFP), it sounded almost identical to my ADD diagnosis! I googled the two together, and up popped your BLOG. Very interesting, and in my opinion, right on target.

Once denied that ADD existed, am now convinced that it describes me. Several on-line screening tests point to a high probability of it. First introduced to type when studying for my Master's in Teaching (a foreign language (French), of course). Although I typed as an inTp (with the 'T' being, by far, the strongest of the four areas), I am definitely INFP. The description describes me, exactly, whereas INTP, only slightly matches. I account for the discrepancy by the fact that I spent many years as a military officer, most of whom are T's. INFPs are known to be very adaptable, and I think I developed the T area because of that. Anyway, I've also been treated for clinical depression, and will be evaluated for Post-Traumatic Stress disorder, soon. I think the "I never Find Perfection" saying is right on.

Hav'nt had a diagnosis for ADD yet but have been diagnosed with just about everything else. I did the Myer Briggs thing about 4 years ago and could'nt believe how accurately it described how I felt.I had always dismissed the ADD thing because i thought that was just about snotty nosed kids who drank to much raspberry cordial and farted in class.Hardly an Idealist. But since finding out about ADD inattentive types i could'nt believe how much that fitted my life and why i have never been able to relate to the mob.I then thought there must be a higher incidence of this occuring with INFP'S so i did a Yahoo search on ADD Infp and up came your site.Well done.I;ll follow this site with interest and will see if i can find a specialist in my town who can help with a diagnosis.They''ve got me down now as a narcoleptic.
Good Luck to you all and if you get a chance get a hold of the book "Status Anxiety" by Alain De Botton.Nothing to do with ADD but it is sweet music to the soul of an INFP.
Regards Lyall.

I'm so glad I found this entry! I'm ADD and INFP too. Nice to know it's not just me.

Hi, i google-searched the net with "depression and ENFP" and your web site turned up. The line "• ENFP: God, help me to keep my mind on one th -Look a bird- ing at a time." made me laugh, but immediately depressed me. funny that! you see, i want a career that i love, but i just am so stuck in a rut that i am not willing to do anything about it. want it, but not willing to do anything about it coz it is bloody depressing thinking about how to do it and then get into action to do it. oh god! i am ranting again!!!! somebody, gag me!!!!!!

Yep, it all seems to make sense. I am also an INFP ADDult (Inattentive Type) who knows depression all too well. Great article :o)

I'm a french INFP meeting ADD's symptoms, actually 24 y/o. Never did what I wanted to, many changing of adress, experimented depersonnalization for years, making me studies that didn't interrested me, but managing to the end, and so trying to work, but impossible for me (accountancy) After that tried to work in computing (helpdesk) but even didn't managed to do it correctly, doing it in my way, never understood by others.... :(
Now, I know that I'm really different, I never will be "natural" for others, but will I find the work wich will allow me to be happy ?
We'll see..
PS: I think my ADD camed after brain trauma caused by dog violence, but nobody cared about that (it was in my 4 year) So I get a lack of logic thinking, wich is pretty hard to live and made me see another reality, and never managed to be myself in social situations... oh my god, I'm so freak...

Hola and whats up? Just wantted to let you know that you guys might be my twins. I have been studing psycolgy (still cant spell) for a while. LOVE the myers-brigg test. I have been thinking i was add for a while. Just got diagnosed with it yesterday! I was wondering if any of you knew some tips on how to combat it? I am happy to know there are so many people out there like me whop are not like the "crowd"......hmm a crowd not like the crowd...lol

Guten Tag - Hier ist ein sehr schooner Site. Cheap Staples

Danke!
Bob Staple

I've taken the Kiersey test several times in the last ten years since college and I'm still an INFP.
I've struggled with depression and ADD (no H) for a very long time.
As far as living with ADD, medication helps.
I also make an extra effort not to beat myself up over things that would take a "normal " person a lot less time to accomplish. Focusing on what "normal" people can do is a sure way to bring on the blues.
During the last couple of years quite a bit of anxiety has jumped into the picture as well.
Yoga has helped quite a bit.
Vigorous and intense exercise which I just started again after a long break helps tremendously. Until lately, I've only been doing moderate exercise such as 45 minute hikes or fast-paced walks. The focus and intensity it takes to complete a real workout seems to wipe out any sort of negative thinking patterns that were on my mind before I began to exercisejust an hour before. I am amazed! We've all read about the scientific study of endorphins being released into your system after exercise. And of course exercise allows you to sleep more soundly, thereby having a more productive following day. And thus, less likely to feel down (about productivity, plus your mood will be naturally elevated) and it's easier to focus.
But of course it's all easier said than done.
I fall into the classic ADD trap of not having enough time to exercise because the rest of my daily tasks have taken too long. Or, my depression drains me to the point of having no energy to exercise.
Getting my exercise done first thing and making it a priority seems to solve this. (on the days that I actually do it)
I've also had to read up on the best diets for people with depression and ADD. I hate to break it everyone, but refined sugar and white flour are the devil!
They temporarily hype you up and then drop you lower than you felt before you ate. I am not advocating a low-carb diet at all, since that too can contribute to depression as well as irritability.
Since reading up on the connection to ADD, depression, and diet,I've switched to whole grains whenever possible. My diet is similar to the famous "Zone Diet".
I also follow the six-small meal plan with snacks at least every four hours.
If I know I only have time for large meals, I tend to overeat becuase I don't know when I'll have time to eat again. And then guess what happens? I overeat, feel sluggish, get really sleepy and unproductive. Then I get down on myself for being unproductive. (depression) Then the anxiety sets in because I am so far behind on what I am suppose to be working on. And of course stress and anxiety are draining and so I am too tired to exercise. My evening is spent reflecting on what a big loser I am and how I have failed to do so many things today.
I hate that it's been proven that my emotional and mental wellness depends on this, while others can be productive by starting their day with coffee and a cigarette or a donut and they'll never have a sugar crash.They'll be happy and social and have plenty of energy all day long.
In the end, it comes down to knowing what has been scientifically proven to help with depression and ADD. But most importantly, I need to commit and follow through. And on the days when I actually practice what I am preaching, I feel pretty damn good!!

This is Hannah again. I wrote the above post about the connectionto ADD, depression exercise and diet.
And of course, I forgot to mention another very important thing that has helped me as well.
I've been in and out of therapy since college. I struggled with depression even more after my boyfriend, a writer and INFP, committed suicide 8 years ago. He's actually the one who got me to take my first Myers-Briggs test that was in the Kiersey book titled PLEASE UNDERSTAND ME.
Anyway, to all of you infp people out there, some words of advice about therapy. My first few therapists were interns working on their Masters degrees in Counseling, both in a University setting as well at various sliding-scale clinics in town. They focused a little bit on trying to find out how my early childhood and family influence the way I see the world. None of the therapist ever dared venture into the content of my dreams. My current therapist is a Jungian trained therapist at a clinic that specializes in a Jungian approach to psychotherapy. My work this therapist in the past six months by far exeeds all of the work I had done with my therapists combined. As a Jungian therapist, she delves into dreams, personality typology, and helping each client find their calling in life, even when it changes.
If any infps out there choose to go to psychotherapy, I would highly recommend a Jungian trained therapist.
In comparison to other forms therapy, she's Shakespeare and makes all the other therapists look like Dr.Seuss.

Well.. It's refreshing to find others like me!

Hello guys!
I'm very happy to have seen your site. I'm INFP too and when I read all your words, I feel much better...It's a pity that teachers don't inform us sooner about personality types and ADD. Indeed in Europe, it's not so common this kind of information.
Hoping the best for all of you, a big kiss from my snowed European country.

I was once asked by a boss (social worker), if I was ever diagnosed ADD. I responded no. But, looking at my job history, I never have stayed with any job for more than 5 years. One may want to look at a correlation between ADD, INFP and Bipolar. Anxiety runs rampant in my head. Thank God for chemistry.

Being an older INFP, I have managed to survive and I would like to help our younger kindred manage their life streams. Early in my life, I thought I was the only one experiencing the things troubling me. After I took the Myers-Briggs three times and analyzing the characteristics of this group, I had a better handle on what was causing me to do the things I did. (There is a darkside to being an INFP, but that's another discussion).

Advice? We're dreamers. Do not let anyone or anything take that away or change you. We've been to places where others are just now getting to.

I see a trend. I didnt exactly read the whole thing lol but from what I did read and the comments... I dont feel alone in the world anymore.

Wow does all of this fit. Being an INFJ is a lot like marriage.....for better and for worse!

Hannah's two posts above contain very valuable information for INFP's. I may switch to a Jungian therapist as a result of her recommendation. INFP's must be cautious of diagnosis of bipolar and/or ADD. Therapists/psychiatrists who don't consider our type in their diagnosis, or who wave off MBTI as unscientific, should be viewed with careful consideration. I'm not at all recommending that INFP's stop any medication or therapy they're currently involved in, though. At least until they've had the opportunity to discuss MBTI issues with their therapist.

I think this is quite true-- and it makes sense. People who are INFP's are often "fanciful" children, and because they are forced to pretend not to be so caught up in a fantasy world, they end up squishing these natural inclinations and ending up just distracted all the time and unable to focus. Depressed, etc. Interesting... I'll have to do some more research on this.

You know what...this website is a dead ringer for how I feel on a daily basis... I have recently just looked into my results for the Meyer-Briggs personality test, and I as well am an INFP who suffers from so-called ADD. I know I have it, but I blame it much on the fact that I am thinking or hypothesizing about 80 percent of my waking hours...its just who I am. It is interesting to read that I am not alone among an estimated 2 million people in our population with an INFP constitution...(makes up about one percent of total popluation supposedly?) Its nice to read that I am not the only one who feels this way about life. Thanks for putting it out there!

-Megan

Your mention of the prayers led me to this tangental bunch of thought. Hmm. Ok, you don't allow inline hrefs. Guess I will have to trust the "URL (optional)" thing to really be working. If not, see my latest (at the moment) LJ entry under "edwardv".

god its awful isn't it? infp-ness. perhaps it would be a little bit more bearable if i stayed a chrisitan. mainly because as an infp i will keep on stumbling and procrastinating and tripping from distraction to distraction, not accomplishing anything, through life until of course i am old and tired and looking back with the knowledge that this is/was it, the one life there is.

i find it difficult to understand when other infps, or when the myers-briggs description, talk of changing the world when all i do is dream of changing myself (without any real regard to what goes on outside).

ok sure i sound pretty depressed and tragic here but its the end of the day and i work full time and the job is busy but repetitive and i do really try to smile there and engage with my colleauges thru out the day but, man, its here: late at night, at the computer, an empty bed waiting, that i find myself hard to deal with.

i have been doing excercise the last months myself actually (re: hannah's words). andit is true actually. it helps. amoung other things, i find it gives me a kind of decisiviness that i often lack. like if i have been swimming (the coolest excercise) i'll be driving home and i won't hesitate if the light has turned orange. i KNOW this is a ridiculous example and makes me out to be a bit of simple geezer. but there is a kind of strength here that i am trying to explain (but far too tired and impatient to).

i just want to say its been really heartening reading these entries. you all rock. i have such a bad memory i thought maybe some of these entries were something i had written (until i read the names at the end). strange.

to wallow in your misery listen to elliott smith, mogwaii, do make say think, and, i guess, the smiths- if ur younger, and i don't mean that in a condescending way.

oh, also, i really don't think infps should do drugs. hell as you know, alcohol can be bad enough. (you know when you go all introverted and dark?) i smoked far too much weed as a teen and regret it immensely and feel that it really doesn't help our cause. we're lost enough as it is.

err. i hope this has helped.

Thanks for this. I've often felt like I had ADD, and have to listen to Baroque music in the background to drown out the distractions in my office.

When I enter the "depths of despair" because reality doesn't measure up to my ideal, I try to remember I'm not alone out here.

I posted a thought on my blog today (see the URL) about the problem with INFPs.

I was actually looking to do research about my 1st grade son because I am almost 100% sure he has ADD which could some day attribute to depression. I am on line to do stimulant (med.) research for him so that he will not continue to be the student that the teacher keeps getting frustrated with. I have both depression and ADD; have as long as I can remember. Thank you all for sharing. Yes to Hannah and yes to the person who said that he/she has not kept the same job for over 5 years. I haven't held the same job for over 3. My husband just doesn't get it. He has been in his same job for 15 years. I don't get it. My poor son and what he might be in for in the future. It makes me sad. Thank you to everyone for helping me understand that I am not alone.
Karen

Wow, I thought I was alone... guess not. INFP/Bi-Polar here and probably ADD too. I could write a dissertation on my life here, but I'll spare you. :) I get bored easily.

Wouldn't it be fun if we could set up an INFP chatroom for those who find this blog? If we set a reasonable time, like say 8PM EST, perhaps many of us can join in. Yahoo chatrooms are convenient.

Wow. I'm an INFP, too (love the MBTI and typing people is a fun hobby!) who has suffered from depression in the past, and my therapist recently suggested I might have ADD -- I've been doing a little research on the correlation between these factors and I'm amazed. It makes so much *sense* why I can't quite get it together now! This was very informative. Thanks! :)

Hi hi

I am a fairly strong ENFP and I have adhd symptoms (based on the tests online and at the doc's). I also have mood swings and OFTEN feel rather down and depressed.

Can ANYONE here help out with my E/I issues. I am certain I am an E, but unless I am with close friends or have some sort of uncontrollable feeling to open up, I am rather reserved, almost against my will. I am an E because it is what makes me feel best and most natural, I score high on the E, but, I think this causes my down feelings, is that I am often shy/insecure about expressing myself unless I am with a group of people who I wholeheartedly know well and trust. Or if I'm drunk for instance.

WHy is this, it's been making life too bitter for the last years, sometimes very bad.

Alex, this might help. From http://www.myersbriggs.org/my_mbti_personality_type/mbti_basics/extravert_and_introvert.asp

"C. G. Jung applied the words extravert and introvert in a different manner than they are most often used in today¡¦s world. As they are popularly used, the term extraverted is understood to mean sociable or outgoing, while the term introverted is understood to mean shy or withdrawn. Jung, however, originally intended the words to have an entirely different meaning. He used the words to describe the preferred focus on one¡¦s energy on either the outer or the inner world. Extraverts orient their energy to the outer world, while Introverts orient their energy to the inner world."

So, you can be an "E" and still be shy and withdrawn, and vice versa. I am an "I" but can be very outgoing at times, although that takes a lot of energy from me and I need to 'recharge' by being alone and connecting with my inner world.

Thanks for the email carol

yea, i've read something like that before, with regard to energy. in that case, perhaps what i wrote originally was meant to be a tangent. i wasn't doubting the fact that I was extroverted, neither was I doubting the fact that i was very often reserved and *shy*.

i think that i am/was just looking for a diagnosis of how the two jive together. for instance, i am curious what kind of personality types woudl benefit most from anti-depressents, it seems to me that natural I's won't as much as natural E's. I also think it could be due to the NFP aspect, because it blocks out a lot of reason from my subconscious decision making, - leading to delusions that are only noticed by me if i really pause to logically think things out and come to different conclusions.

what does everyone think of that.

hi everyone! I'm coming to terms with ADD just having read Women and Attention Deficit Disorder. This woman must be spying on my life. I was an INFJ and a perfectionist--but I've come to think that was the 'hyperfocused' ADD inattentive. It was hard to sustain.

Do drugs work? There is very little on line from people who've been taking the drugs. Can anyone comment on their experiences with prescription drugs. Thanks!

Heh, Does seem like lots of INFPs find there way to this blog doesn't it?
I don't have ADD, but I was homeschooled partly because I didn't do anything in school. Just sat quietly at the back of the class thinking my own thing.

And I don't have depression not that old though.

Sometimes I wonder what happens to people like me. I'm a christian so I have a strong belief I can stick to. But I often wonder what would have happened to me if I grew up outside of a christian family. I don't like I would have had much of a reason to live.

Me :)
Introverted 78
Intuitive 75
Feeling 38
Perceiving 89

I was wondering how many INFP's have a srong Aries or Sagittarius influence in their birth charts and how many have ADD? I also wondered how many have a strong libra influence in their chart? I would probably have ADD. I have my sun sign in Aries, moon in sagittarius, and Mars in Libra. I am an INFP. I believe justice is important. I am easily restless. I start things and have trouble finishing them and love freedom. Anyway, thatnks for the insight on this blog.

I'm an INFP and ADD, but I didn't realize there was a connection until I stumbled upon a website about a month ago. It makes a lot of sense to me.

I found the last comment interesting because I'm a Sagittarius. I've been reading a lot about numerology and I've noticed a lot of the people I work with are also the same number as me a 7 as well as an NF.

When I was diagnosed with ADD at 17, I began taking medication for it. It works very well for focusing on tasks, concentrating in school, and helped me to get better grades, but I still find that if I’m not very interested or simply don’t understand a subject then even on Adderall I still have trouble.

As well as being diagnosed with ADD I was diagnosed with having “social-anxiety disorder” and was on anti-depressants for two years which helped me some, but when I used Hemi-sync, which I heard can cure ADD, I no longer needed anti-depressants.

I just have a question, are we supposed to be trying to fix this so called problem we have with drugs or now that we know it as simply our temperament are we supposed to be embrace it?

I don't know the answer to your question, but I am left to wonder if we are the personality type that is meant to do what we love since we wont focus on what we don't. That is funny that you came out a 7 in numerology because I did too. Maybe we have to learn how to work with it. The teachers would do well to learn to work with us. I have heard a lot of people with ADD are creative. The teachers would do well to accept the ADDers forms of learning through creativity, as long as they understand the material. I think their is a reason a certain small percentage of the population is an INFP type and are prone to ADD. I haven't figured out what it is yet.It's good to hear the perspectives of those who may have similer issues as me or who have positive insights about being an INFP.

I can relate to many people on this blog. I was diagnosed with ADD as a child and struggled in grade and high school because I often lost my assignments. (Usually not perposely). I found myself in college and averaged A's and B's. (I was disatisfied with B's, however.) I took the Myer's-Brigg's test in college and I knew from the presenters dicription my type (INFP) and the aprox. scores. I even had one profesor. (I really struggle with spelling) tell me that I was an "Idealist". I have sence been diagnosed with severe Bipolar I. I "lost" myself for a while but reciently I recovered my Idealism and my enthusiasm for life. I still get depressed (I am on the anticonvulsent Lamictil and two other medications. The meds I am on work for me but such pills aren't for everyone. It has to be your choise, not some psychietrist.) You can tell that I am a strong INFP just by seeing how messy my apartment is! I just can't stand all the detail work nessary to clean. (I feel guilty every time someone comes into my apartment.) Anyway,can someone give me a positive solution to my lack of entusiasm for cleaning?

I have to clarify some of my comments. I ment to say that I found myself while in college. I also should have said that when I recieved the results of the first Myer's-Brigg's test that I knew the results simply from the discription of the eight variables before I actually recieved the actual results of the test. I guess that I hate to be misunderstood has a human being and by what I write.

Oh I've tried countless times throughout my life to clean my room/apartment/house. I found out the problem is not just getting them cleaned (yes it does take a lot of determination and work). But because of my perfectionist nature, once they are clean, I obsess about KEEPING them clean, and I can't get anything else done. So it's easier just to leave everything in a mess, my "organized" mess. I feel guilty too when people come visit. I also hate to be misunderstood by what I write and what I say (although it's probably much easier to misunderstand what I write since I write a whole lot more than I speak). Does that make sense? I need sleep...

Hey guys,
I'm infp and I really relate to Jeffrey. struggled in high school too; however I excelled at college and university. At school I was put in all the special help classes and made to do different more simple work. Especially by my English teacher she would write things more simply especially for me on the board & would say to the other kids "u have to help her - she doesn't understand" - I now have an english lit degree and got 100pc in my A-level exam! I've often wondered why this happened - I think I was just bored and daydreamed alot and the teachers thought I was a vegetable coz I was so quiet.Found it difficult to listen. always lost everything 2! books, pens, my work, myself, wud come into school with my uniform inside out (by accident!o) Has this happend to ne1 else? Also I'm Saggitarius sun mercury, uranus, neptune, Aries moon - so maybe there is a connection. sorry to ramble - xx

Hello!

I'm an INFP too, I was always getting told off for not listening and stuff. But ya know I hyper focus on things. I'm a Taurus with Saggitarius accendant. Lots of Aries and Moon in Pisces, poor me.

Wish me luck I'm a poet to add to my disabilities hehehehe.

I've flip-flopped between doing extremely well to barely making the grade throughout my school years. I definitely daydreamed a lot.... can't pay attention usually but if it's something that really interest me I will hyper focus almost obsessively.

I'd like to hear more about the bi polar aspect of INFP. I'm inattentive ADD. Duh, we live in our heads. And, apparently we are also rare among bi polars. I wonder how many here have a creative streak? Insomnia?

Also, what are the evolutionary implications of mental illness? Are we the next leap? The ones who go easily into the technological age unscathed by human contact.

Anyone wants to chat...just IM. I'm into books, music, movies, art, paper, beads, alternative book forms, embossing, knitting, etc.

;)
E
manic phase

Zoloft is good for social phobia and OCD.

e.
poisontea4u@yahoo.com

Nothing to add to al of the above. It's all too familiar for me.
For those interested in astrology, my own stuff: ascendant Sagittarius, sun Aquarius, Moon Pisces, Mars Aries. Seems not unusual.

This was really interesting for me. Thanks! I'm an INFP (I keep taking the test, thinking it will change...damn), and I have dealt a lot with depression, especially in college (now 23), so it was particularly relevant. I don't think I have ADD, but the daydreaming is definitely something that takes up a lot of my time. And as far as feeling misunderstood...that's something I've thought about myself for as long as I can remember.

I keep running across sites that also tell me that INFPs are the "least marriable" or will have the "most problems mating for life" of all the personality types. Any other young, single women find this sad? It's hard to write this off when so much of what they say describes me so well...

(To the person who said the "rt" is missing in start from the prayers, it's supposed to be missing...that's why it's funny.)

Insomnia? What insomnia? It's only 4am.... ;)
Oh, and I work a regular 9-6 job. Really tough...

But I'm also happily married. Our problems with mating probably stems from our idealistic view of the world, of people, and of relationships. And when things fall short of our ideals, we get totally despondent and withdraw into our inner worlds... It's a delicate balance of having faith and not losing hope and accepting reality while somehow still keeping my idealism - plus meeting the right person, that I am where I am today.

I wish all of you luck and love as welll...

Well this site was a great discovery. Hi im another INFP certainly depressive on and off since age 15 have a son with ADD and show ADD inattentive type traits myself. Have always felt out of it not part of the gang not 'normal'. Have sort of learned to live with my depression but its a bit rubbish isnt it? Must be a lot easier being some of the other personality types. Keep reading that sensitivity can be a gift etc etc but id settle for being more easy-going and light hearted.

I was diagnosed 5 yrs ago after a bout with severe depression. Wellbutrin saved my sanity and helped my ADD 100%. Now I'm dealing with the opposite affect of lack of creativity and inspiration with the drugs, so trying to level everything to get to a happy medium. Even without the meds, at least I know what the problem is, so I can deal- before I was always depressed and angry and was frustrated because I never knew why. Knowing as they say- is half the battle. The other half is figuring out who you are and what really matters- good luck to you all- It's definately a journey.

Hmmm.
By way of background info I'm an MBTI INTP and Keirsian NT (iNtuitive Thinker).
From what I have learned about ADD I had deduced that *most* diagnosed with ADD were Keirsian SP (Sensate Perceivers) who SJ (Traditionalist, Gaurdian) teachers, bureaucrats, or/and parents couldn't get to `pay attention', do their duties, or/and subordinate themselves to `Athority' (EG sociopolitical `Power').
Personally, I -- an IN in your typology -- have had problems with `attention' of two subtypes:
(a) attending to what `others' believe/know I should be `attending to'.
(b) attending to `details of life' (AKA `depression')
As for the not-attending to what would-be athorities want, need, request, or demand ... I regard this another matter altogether.

To me the ADD diagnosis is for flit-witted Sensate-Perceiver Artisans with `impulse control' problems; not intuitives `listening to their inner voices/iNtuitions'.
Especially if/when listening to one's intuition is
`part of one's job', for-profit, etc.

Also, it seems that ADD is `a problem' regarded by Extroverted Sensates whose preferences for `attending to' external sensual stimuli' result in biases against both introverts and intuitives who prefer attend to either `internal' stimuli (EG thoughts, feelings, etc) or `iNtuition' (as opposed to `the 5' senses). Personally, I don't regard any apperceived (as in T.A.T. ) `deficit' of attention by someone-anyone either Extroverted, Sensate, or `in a position of authority' as `a disorder': I regard it good policy and good practice to ignore the ignorant of this ilk. However, I do regard my not-too-well-developed ability to `attend to' day-to-day matters of living (as in `depression') as a disorder.

Thanks for making public your otherwise private thoughts on the correspondence between depression
and Introverted intuitives. And, in closing, I'll pose this question: If only 4 to 5 percent of `the flock' are introverted intuitives then why wouldn't they/we experience the `depression' of ugly ducklings surrounded by the `birds of a feather which flock together'? Be we swans or mere loons, it is qua IS rather depressing, lonely, or such finding one's Self surrounded by birds of a different feather, isn't it?

Sincerely,
Gene

Wow! I've been soul searching all my life never quite understanding why I felt so different to most people I knew and now I'm beggining to see why! I'm a INFP, also I have ADD (although self diagnosed through online tests and research) (and I'm a Sagitarrius), there seems to be a signififcant link between these elements.

I'm really glad I stumbled upon this page it makes me feel less freakish knowing there are others with the same outlook as me.

To me the world is a place of such beauty, but others tend to pass it by and ignore the simple things like the way a leaf is snatched from a branch by the wind and then gently tumbles to the ground in a cascade of colour and randomn dances.

I often feel this surge of emotions even when thinking of silly things that others would not regard significant. Its weird how I've ALWAYS felt the urge to help people, animals or the planet in general. The problem is I never actually get around to doing ANYTHING because I'm forever stuck in my own thoughts and reflections. Damn and blast it, I would have to go and be a INFP!! But it's all good ;)

The INFP the eternal poet, healer and believer...

I'm an INFP and found this page after feeling particular badly just now from sitting in another meeting where others were talking freely but I was sweating bullets afraid I'd have to say something. It made me wonder how talking in meetings is so easy for others but not me. And then I have to write some documentation, but I'm totally not interested in it and have put it off all day, instead surfing the Internet looking for pictures of girls who might resemble an old girlfriend. Annnd finally I just found out that an old classmate has a job with a lot more status than mine, and it made me feel like I am wasting my life even though I like my job. Why is it easier for him to talk to high powered people and not worry all the time?

I have been treated for ADD with Adderall, and anxiety with Xanax, and social phobia with Zoloft, but that was 5 years ago, and I'm thinking it might be time to go back, if only so that I can speak up in meetings...

I find it an interesting, but don't necessarily agree fully. I am myself an INFP and no we don't fit in. I agree in that INFP's are more likely to suffer depression, however I have to disagree with the ADD diagnosis. I don't think INFP's are more likely to suffer ADD or to have ADD. I think its the reverse, people with ADD are more likely to become INFP's. It's a subtle difference, perhaps not worth mentioning.

It is hard, I often feel alone. If you've read information saying that INFP's are the least marriagable, I wouldn't worry. It isn't true at all. Most people connect very well with us. People don't understand us, but doesn't mean they can't love us.

By the way, I'm an Aquarius. I know this thread is old, but tonight, I feel like just letting some others know how I feel. If you get past the website ads.

I'm very happy to find this conversation about INFP and ADD/Depression. I am a mental health therapist, and an INFP who has suspected I have ADD. I'm am not often depressed, I feel all lives have there ups and downs... I started considering the ADD diagnosis after I took my pre-teen daughter in to be tested following many years of frustration with her symptoms. She started on meds and we saw immediate results. I took the Meyers-Briggs for the second time at a 2 day workshop last weekend and was shocked to see what I felt was a corralation with ADD. I have resisted taking medication for ADD for a few reasons. I am a recovering drug addict (10 years) and worry about speed. I am aware of strateria and I am still considering it, I am fortunate to work with several psychiatrists. But I'm worried about what I my loose of my basic personality, such as creativity, process, intuativeness (sic) etc. I love most things about my life, by my lack of orgainizational skills and my significant inability to finish very important tasks causes much anxiety for me. Of course, being an INFP makes it easier to keep putting this decision off... Have any of you folks taken meds for the ADD symptoms? Did you feel the loss I'm described above or any other losses??
Also on a slightly different note, at the workshop I attended we discussed the scales for each factor, (slight, moderate, etc) and the facilitator indicated that one way to approach a balance would be the more fully develop our preferances rather than to struggle with them. This makes some sense as it would reduce how conflicted we feel about who we are. Comments about this??

Judy, I am an INFP and was diagnosed with ADHD (without the 'H' haha). Therefore I am taking a stimulant called Dexedrine. If you take a small amount it is not a problem at all. I have only been taking it for a couple of weeks, and WOW! I sure can focus! My memory is not necessarily any better, though. I take such a small amount that my creativity has so far not been affected. Furthermore, my former boss has been taking the same thing for 7 years and her memory and sharpness are soooo awesome. She said that while she does have to increase her dosage every couple of years (and will have to forever, probably), there are no dangerous side effects. Other alternatives to medication would be to be give a balanced, organic diet a try and take Omega-3. Also, when I was in 9th grade, I ate lots of sausage, milk, bread, etc. and lightly jogged 3 miles every day (and was on the tennis team). My grades were great, I felt more extroverted, I was creative, I could get up in the morning without hitting the snooze button 50 times. And it only took about 2 weeks of exercise and lots of protein to really notice a difference. But, right now, I'm really busy, taking 15 killer-hard courses in college, working 20 hours a week, and maintaining a serious relationship, so I thought I would first give stimulants a try since my boss has had such good results. **Another thing, I am an addictive person, and since stimulants are addictive, I am being put on some prayer lists to pray for me that I won't become addicted. Anyway...good luck ;)

John, I know exactly how you feel... I have the hardest time speaking up in meetings. It just seems so easy for others to speak their minds freely but takes tremendous effort on my part to voice anything out before I lose my nerve. It can be almost paralysing sometimes. It happens in both work and social situations, so exhausting and draining... It's just so much easier being alone by myself, with my own thoughts, without all the different voices and sounds to distract me. As if our own thoughts are not distracting enough! There could be hundreds of things going through my mind at any one time with like 10 main trains of thoughts clamouring for my attention. Makes it hard to get anything done! Like this short comment took me almost 15 minutes to complete as I paused to do some other thing or to ponder another idea etc.....

Judy, I am an INFP ADHD with a pretty good IQ. I'm not going into my details because it seems we are all basicaly the same.
I started adderall at 20. I found my creativity got better because I could finish ideas. The only thing I lost was appetite.
Does anyone have advice to get over the frustration of so many years I could have been tangiably productive and not have gotten in trouble every day if someone would have realized what was going on and put me on meds?
Also, now I am stuck with the expected low selfesteem and sense of inadequecy...any good ways to get over these things and grow as a person without therapy?
Is there a chat room that we all meet at?

Thanks Eli and Laura for your comments. I do not have ADHD, just the ADD. Although it looks like there are more simalarities than differences here. Completing projects is certainly not my strong point. Your comments about creativity and getting things done are VERY helpful. I would like to respond to your question about how to build your self-esteem and reduce your sense of inadequecy. There are a number of things you can try, it is impossible to say what will be the thing that will help as we are all so different. One of the main reasons you may feel this is that you are having trouble forgiving yourself of your previous failures or difficulties. Compassion is necessary for forgiveness. I could be useful to imagine someone you love making simalar mistakes in order to be more objective about giving yourself a break. You deserve love.

Hello to all of you beautiful INFP's

About 20 yrs ago I worked for a lawyer who used Meyers/Briggs to counsel his clients who were thinking of divorce. I was involved in many many seminars learning about this topic. I was 20 yrs old and tested to be an INFP,(so was the lawyer so I learned much about our precious personalities) :)

Now, I am 40 and that was of course a lifetime ago, yes, just as most have mentioned, struggled with depression, anxiety, was misdiagnosed with Bi-Polar,ect...I recently retook this test. (I forgot about it for many years, hee hee) And yes, retested as an INFP. I was quite puzzled because in all of these years, I have dealt with many issues and in my Christian faith have become quite at peace with myself and find great joy in the special gifts that we as INFP's have to offer others.(of course I did'nt realize these gift were because of our type) I thought perhaps, my type must have changed because I am no where near the person I was 20 yrs ago. But, types just don't change, we just learn to grow and develop and embrace the good that we have within us, don't let the negatives be a black mark but an area to improve.

someone mentioned marriage failure. I have been married for 15 yrs to my opposite an ENTJ (now talk about a challenge!) God designed us all so different, if we can find the positive in each other and not try to change each other (because we can't) any marriage can work.

This has become a very long thread, I do not normally write, but this is an area of passion for me. Embrace being the special INFP that is rare and very important in our troubled world.

God Bless.

Hi guys. It's been really fascinating reading everyones' comments. We all seem to have much in common. I am an Aries, INFP and when I was just a young child, my doctorand parents decided Iwas hyperactive and put me on Phenobarb. Lots of projects. I have been quite suc-cessful academically, but, sadly, you were right. I just can't find perfection. Basic chef course, 2 college diplomas, social service and drug and alcohol counselling, currently on a leave of absense from work to complete my BA, as I only need 4 credits. I still don't have any confidence and like many others, never did feel like I fit in anywhere. I always felt odd until I talked with this employment counsellor who told me about several approaches including true colours and Meyers Briggs. Once I saw that I was rare, weel, I could feel weird or I could feel gifted for having ideas and visions others didn't. I chose to feel gifted. Might sound nuts but for what ever reason we were chosen or selected I believe we have the potential to do great things. Imagine what we could accomplish collectively with the right focus! Thanks.

Eli, I think a planned time to converse is a great idea. I'll keep checking in. May the force be with you. Regards.

Hi all of you.

I have been so happy to find this site! It is like reading my personal diary in internet and it feels amazing. I have wondered my whole life why I am so different form others and why is everything so difficult to me in normal life. Now after graduating from university and in workling life the tasks and responsibilities came too big for me and I finally got in to psycholog and started to research what is wrong with me. I am in the beginning but reading all this gives me hope that some day things could be different that they are now. Thank you for this.

I have always been a dreamer and poet who feels nobody can not understannd me and the beauty of the (my) world. My home is huge mess as my life where I can not make any order even I try so hard. I can not make decisions at all and it makes impossible to know which boy I should date or what career should I choose. I also get easily depressed or if I am not depressed I am rather a never stopping duracel and in any case can not concentrate. Well I can but it is so hard... some things I am very interested off I can concentrate but then i can not do anything else. For me making doctor appointments or hairdresser appointments are huge tasks. I have always been good at school and if I could not manage to study well I made my life miserable and got depressed. From the tests I got ENFP and I wish to know how can you know what belongs to ADHD and what is only because of my personality? And is it worth taking medicine if the part of my person that I think is valuable is also vanished then?

Kisses to you all.

I'm curious about the Shelton info on depression:

When it comes to Depression, I found that INFP is the most likely of all the types to report suicidal thoughts in college (MBTI Manual, 1998) as well as having the highest level of depression of the 16 types (Shelton, MBTI Applications, 1996).

Do you own a copy of that book? It is rare and out of print...
Do you know where I can find a copy?

Love your site...
it is so creative-

Hi Julia,

Thanks for your comments. I don't have a copy of the book, but you can get one from the CAPT website: http://www.capt.org/catalog/MBTI-Book-60101.htm

I'm also thinking about setting up a chat room, since some people have expressed interest. More info to follow... (soon I hope, but ya'll know how it is with INFPs and procrastination...)

I am a 33 year old infp. I am on Celexa for depression and anxiety. My problem is that I'm too damn sensitive. I can fall into a depression if someone doesn't like me. Since I've had problems fitting in, there has been a lot of depression in my life. I don't know if I have ADD but I wouldn't be surprised. I spent my school days daydreaming and then studying at the last minute in order to catch up. My parents used to get so frustrated at my inattentiveness! My boyfriend will for example change something in the house and it will take me days to notice. I am notoriously messy and late all the time. I think us folks have found each other - we sure all sound a lot alike. Hearing that other people have had the same problems makes me feel better about my lack of fitting in throughout my life. Maybe we're all just a bit different. At least we're not alone.
On the up side, I have a wonderful long term relationship, so that saying that infp's are more likely to have relationship problems doesn't ring true for me. I think we have a lot of traits that are beneficial to having a relationship: sensitivity to the feelings of others, easy going, non-controlling temperaments, creativity (good for trying to understand someone else), and loving natures. Also, many of us are smart cookies - I'm fortunate to have a great career. So, I guess the lesson is to make peace with our personalities by recognizing and appreciating the gifts that come with the infp personality.

We have a Yahoo Group!!!
This is the link:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/INFP_ADD

If people start joining we can have chat secions!
I can't wait.

Judith-you should so a search for "HSP" which many INFPs are. Maybe you'll find some tips you like for dealing with hypersensivitity.

We have a yahoo group now!!!
If we all join we can have live chat.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/INFP_ADD

that's interesting. im an INTP, but im borderline thinking/feeling. Everything you say makes sense and is intelligent. I have depression/ADD/etc. IN's being rare, I think if we ran the world (and not the ES's) it would be a different place, but we dont.

Thanks Ian for your compliments. Also, thanks to everyone who has left comments and shared your thoughts and feelings. It makes me feel great everytime someone says they can relate to what's being written here. While we may be far apart geographically and very different culturally etc., there's this bond that we all share which brings us close together. We have an understanding that sometimes even those closest to us may not be able to get.

Love to all of you,
cybette

Hi Everyone,

I am an INFP. I am pretty sure that I have ADD but can't afford testing and therapy. Like many other people here, I underperformed in school due to my lack of concentration and test anxiety. I have also had difficulty keeping a job. Although I have a lot of experience doing different things, employers have a hard time looking at my resume.

I have turned to meditation and Buddhism to help me solve my problems. I gave away almost all my stuff so that I don't have to worry about losing things or things getting messy. I have also limmited myself to certain projects so that I can finish them. Last, I try and meditate a lot so that I don't have a much junk in my head either.

I still have problems, don't get me wrong. However, I have found that my memory has improved. Also, I am not as late for appointments and paying bills. Last and most importantly, I don't feel as overwhelmed by my emotions.

I hope this helps. It was nice reading everyone's posting.

-John

Hi, my ex was an infp and he had bi-polar depression. I am my self a female intp and have had depressions when things went wrong. I have a website if you like to talk to other intp people adn register there; intpinternational@yahoogroups.com

I was wandering around the web and stumbled onto this site. Wow! What a surprise to find that I have so much company as an INFP with ADD. However, it seems to me that there are very few men who have ADD (without an H), like me. In any case, thanks for starting this blog!

Like most ADDers, it doesn't matter that I have a digital watch with an alarm function, I am late to everything.

After much practice, I can stand up and give a speech, but it took a long time to get over the stage fright I had as a student. It wasn't until I had been in college for a while (6 majors, 250+ units, no degree) that I overcame it, but I still think of myself as terminally shy and "cold call" door to door sales is the last thing I would do, except perhaps for bookkeeping.

While I can do arithmetic when necessary (I love my programmable scientific calculator!), my checkbook is a mess. In part, that comes from using a debit card, which makes it difficult for me to keep track of every purchase in my check register, and in part it's the record keeping that I manage to forget to do way too often. And don't even talk about filing tax returns. For me, filing my own income tax returns is as much fun as a trip to the dentist -- without anesthesia.

I knew long ago that I should not be a bookkeeper or an accountant, so I picked something that is fun for me, tuning transmitters (I discovered amateur radio when I was 13), and that is how I became a broadcast engineer. Currently, I maintain four high power TV transmitters (30,000 watts each) for a TV station in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is a job I can do that very well, and with relatively little effort, which is probably why I have managed to keep it (one day per week) for twenty years. I like working solo on a mountain top, late at night. Although I work in television, I rarely watch TV to relax because I keep seeing all of the defects and mistakes. I guess that comes from having to find those mistakes during most of my working life. A few years ago I took another test and found that I am an auditory learner (along with about 30% of the population), so when I want to relax, I turn on my sound system.

I'm 63, and have known all my life that I am not like most people, but what I didn't know until about 20 years ago is that there was a name for my "condition" (ADD) and that I am not as crazy, stupid, or lazy as many have told me I am. About the same time I learned about ADD, I also learned I am a strong INFP, but I didn't realize there might be a connection between my ADD and my INFP personality type until I found this blog. Thanks and keep up the good work!

email to: rgetsla (at) yahoo (dot) com

The above email address is written the way it is because this system will not accept an email address that cannot be read and copied by a "bot" used to collect valid email addresses for spammers. I currently receive more than 200 spam messages every day, and I am sure that is because I used to put my email address in "bot" readable form, until I learned what a "bot" is.

WOWA! I had noooo idea! I mean I've been in psychotherapy on and off since I was 12 and been doing tests and stuff, but they just never seemed to get it right. When trying to describe me they'd have parts right, but I'd always say there was more to it then just that. And as I'm in university now and having a hard time combining that with my psychological instability I went searching for a different approach and found it last week in a psychotherapist who specializes in personality types. We did a test, I'm an INFP and so she gave me some sites and authors and said: just explore for a while and then come back in a couple of weeks. And oh my gosh I have never read such good descriptions of how I feel as now when reading the INFP descriptions. It's as if I wrote them myself. (which amazingly is another characteristic I share with the INFP type)
I think at last I've found the right way able to deal with my everlasting depression. I actually believe the depression is a part of me and shouldn't get completely kicked out, just don't want any major suicidal episodes anymore. But I repeat WOWA I'm just so amazed I can relate to basically everything I'm reading about and by other INFP's. So glad to know I can discuss it with people who'll truly understand what I'm saying!
So thanx all for contributing!

An extremely sad and lonely thing about my type of depression, being INFP, is that i am constantly aware that there is this beautiful, enlightened possibility of existence where minds gel together amazingly, and the possibility of freedom of happiness---but the soulessness and drudgery of everyday existence (like waiting for the bus surrounded by dirty traffic, having a repetitive job, having to make small talk, especially about what i am going to do with my future)---the loss of magic on a regular basis leads to a spiritual deadening. then i start to feel tragic. Where did that old green magic go? i know it's out there but i cannot channel it. Is this due to a personality flaw, of having the INFP all out of balance????
no wonder we are the most prone to suicide.
then on a positive note, have the potential to be more blissfully happy, when times are good, than most people....................................

The young photographer glanced at Roark¡¦s face¡Xand thought of something that had puzzled him for a long time: he had always wondered why the sensations one felt in dreams were so much more intense than anything one could experience in waking reality¡Xwhy the horror was so total and the ecstasy so complete¡Xand what was that extra quality which could never be recaptured afterward; the quality of what he felt when he walked down a path through the tangled green leaves in a dream, in an air full of expectation, of causeless, utter rapture¡Xand when he awakened he could not explain it, it had just been a path through some woods. He thought of that because he saw that extra quality for the first time in waking existence, he saw it in Roark¡¦s face lifted to the building.
-----from The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand

Hi, I just wanted to say thanks for your work on this site. My name's Mike. I'm 38. I'm on Concerta for ADD and FXT40 for dysthymia, so I guess I can help support the theory at the top of the page. I look forward to reading this in its entirity, however not now since I have a hundred other things I should be doing right now.

Wow,its amazing how so many different people can be grouped into an INFP/ADD camp.Ialways thought i surpassed definition,feels good to be understood!Dream on

I feel saddened that I have so much to offer and so much potential but due to the continuous changing of "what I want to do", I never get anywhere and thus feel continuously depressed. The truth is I don't know what to do... I move from being a poet to an artist to an entrepreneur... until I think about the destruction of the rain forests and the depletion of the sea, hunting of whales etc and I get depressed and lose focus. I am bright, sharp and intuitive but because of the way I am, I see others getting ahead OUT THERE IN THE WORLD, earning excellent money etc... and I am still wondering around in circles... feeling lost, wondering how I will enter & survive in THAT WORLD OUT THERE, get more depressed and wonder what the point is if this feeling is never going to go away... and if the situation doesn't change. What is the answer to finding happiness/contentment/career in life as an INFP? Is there no answer? I have been for career counselling... but there's something in ME that prevents me finding it or going there. Any comments or help would be greatly appreciated. Otherwise the joy of life that I feel is replaced with "let me go just like the rain forests and the whales are going".

How many of you here have been tested as gifted? I have read that INFP/INTP is the most common personality type amoung the gifted. Also, gifted people are commonly misdiagnosed or dual-diagnosed with ADD and Bipolar. Many comments of the INFP personality on this site are very similar to traits of giftedness: sensitivity, intuition, emotionally intense, etc. Just wondering how closely related the two are.

Hi and yes, I'm an INFP and no matter how long it's been since I've taken the test, I remain one. And I can see we are all brethren. I am under treatment for depression (successfully I might add, because my anxiety is managed). However, I'm always at the brink of financial disaster because I cannot handle money - the responsibility frightens me. I suspect I have ADD based on the stupid mistakes I make at work. My dreams and imagination can be beautiful companions; a wonderful concept or the fantastic sunset or the expression of love can move me to tears. When responsibilities become too much for me to handle, I cocoon and see or talk to no one outside of work, and I love being alone because I cannot be judged. Sounds like you, eh? What I need is to be taken care of by a loving and wealthy man who takes me as I am and has enough money for me to fritter endlessly. I think we INFP's just don't handle the real world very well. We should all have enough money to pay others to deal with the facts of life so we can do what we do best, which is to care for others, adore beauty and truth, read and write and create...okay, enough rambling here. :-)

Wow, I hate to be redundant, and say what has been said so many times here, but it's amazing how so many of you express the same feelings that I have.

I am 33 and have recently found out that I am an INFP. Very heavy on the P. I have always had such a hard time living everday life and doing everyday tasks. I dream of a better world where every conversation has meaning and we all feel connected with each other. But in reality, I feel so disconnected from everyone.

I have been battling depression my whole life and have done a pretty good job of fighting it off on my own, but I just can't seem to shake it this time. I constantly feel like I should be doing "something important" but I have no idea what it is. I get so depressed thinking about all the time I'm wasting and begin to feel that my life is worthless and that I have no reason to exist. What is my purpose? Why do I feel so strongly that I have a purpose, but I can never find.

Just like many of you, I get excited about something and think to myself "I'm going to do this" but then after a few days or weeks I get bogged down in the details of it all and lost interest.

I feel like I will never accomplish anything and I am mortified that my son will grow and look at me and think of me as lazy. How do we get over this depression and find and purpose and actually get something done?

Chip

Erika, BINGO! You must have been reading my mind because your thoughts match mine so well, except that I'm 63, male, and not likely to find a wealthy woman to be my wife. My wife of almost 40 years expects me to do most of the earning and to pay our bills.

There are so many "dead on" comments above, especially the ones about INFP = giftedness plus a great imagination, that I am totally amazed.

I know something about giftedness, and I am here to tell you that being "gifted" can be more of a curse than a blessing. I missed third grade because I did too well on some standardized tests. I do not recommend dealing with a "gifted" child who is bored in school and "spacing out" because he or she already knows what the rest of the class is learning for the first time, by allowing the school people to "skip" your child ahead a grade. After I went directly from second grade to fourth grade, it was many years before I felt like I "belonged" with the other kids in my classes. And even now, fifty years later, I still feel like an outsider some of the time.

My longhand handwriting is illegible, at least partly because I missed the transition from printing to longhand in the third grade I never had. Fortunately for me, I met an equally gifted woman in one of my college classes. Everything she wrote was in italic printing. She gave me the title of a book on the Italic hand, which I immediately bought. I spent the better part of a summer learning italic printing, and now I use it for everything. No one complains about my handwriting.

Now that I have a computer, I use my keyboard as much as possible. Fortunately, I found an easy to use word processor with a very good spelling checker. I use it for everything (including this post) by using the Windows "clipboard" to copy and paste between one "window" and another. Using my word processor and the Windows copy, cut, and paste functions, I am able to find (and fix) most of my grammar and spelling mistakes before I make my thoughts public.

My "secret weapon" word processor is called Cetus WordPad, which was intended to replace Microsoft Wordpad in Windows 95. Cetus no longer supports or distributes Cetus WordPad, but they released it years ago as unsupported "freeware" and if you would like, I will email a zipped copy of Cetus Wordpad to you. The whole thing fits into a 1.6 megabyte zip file, including the word processor, a great spelling checker, and even a thesaurus.

Email to: rgetsla (at) yahoo (dot) com

"An extremely sad and lonely thing about my type of depression, being INFP, is that i am constantly aware that there is this beautiful, enlightened possibility of existence where minds gel together amazingly, and the possibility of freedom of happiness---but the soulessness and drudgery of everyday existence (like waiting for the bus surrounded by dirty traffic, having a repetitive job, having to make small talk, especially about what i am going to do with my future)---the loss of magic on a regular basis leads to a spiritual deadening. then i start to feel tragic. Where did that old green magic go? i know it's out there but i cannot channel it. Is this due to a personality flaw, of having the INFP all out of balance????
no wonder we are the most prone to suicide.
then on a positive note, have the potential to be more blissfully happy, when times are good, than most people....................................
Posted by Isabel -- June 2, 2006 06:33 PM "

I was going to post here but, Wow that is my life story summed up (To be or not to be is the ?)

I was in fact in a "gifted education program" in middle & junior high schools ... but I'm plagued by my inability to do something really well. either i lose interest after a while, or lose confidence when i don't meet my own expectations. (and you know how high we set those bars no matter how much we remind ourselves to be realistic.)

Hi all. I swear, I always thought I must have been switched at birth because I never fit in. It seems I've finally found my "people", here, on this website.

As an INFP child, I was always told to "get my head out of the *&^^ books and go outside to play with the other children!!!". I would play, with my best friends, but hated having to interact with other kids. As an INFP teen I constantly missed the school bus, was late for class because I either couldn't FIND my locker, or once found, couldn't remember the combination. Even if I did manage that, I'd usually go to the wrong class. My marks weren't great because I lost track of assignments. My teachers didn't think I was smart because, unless the teacher held my interest, I'd drift off into my own little world. University was much better because I majored in psychology, which I loved...but I had to work full time too, and it was too stressful...not the work, but having to be around people for so long with no private time to "recharge". I became a teacher, and was a good teacher. My kids loved me and I always looked out for the kids who didn't fit in. As long as I had a Teacher's Assistant, things were fine. I had all of the creative ideas, and she made sure I actually remembered that I wanted to do them, and she made sure I got to meetings on time. Then I taught alone, and the teaching and kids part was still great, but I kept losing track of staff meetings and committee meetings and I thought I was losing my mind. No matter how hard I tried, I was always late or missing something. Even if I wrote it down. There's more to teaching than teaching, and it was too stressful. After taking several years off for a nervous breakdown (which aren't even called nervous breakdowns anymore; I forget what they're called), and getting diagnosed with PTSD, bipolar disorder type 2, and possibly ADD, I finally realized that I need several things in order to function. Maybe this will help some of the young folks on here, and maybe some of the older people can relate. I need to live in a small city or in the country, not a large busy city where I'm overstressed as soon as I walk out the door due to the amount of people and fast pace of life. I need lots of time alone. I need friends who understand this, and I need to stay away from intrusive people who don't respect boundaries. I need to take time to dream. I need a friend (or a therapist) who gives me a feeling of being accepted and understood. I need pets, and a garden, and lots of walks near water, and daily physical activity (swimming and walking). I need a job that lets me use my creativity. I just wrote my first 2 books, and if I can get the query letters in the mail, who knows, maybe they'll even be pubished!

Anyway, I'm sorry this post is so long, but I was just so excited to find people who seem to be like me. It doesn't happen very often (I have friends who need to go white water rafting in order to get the same feeling I get from walking into a room full of strangers!).

Take care, and thanks for listening (reading, lol)!
Kat

Hello everybody,

I just learned about the infp thing and that I am one of them. I have never being diagnose with ADD but sounds like something I might have..

I did have severe depression in my early 20's, and I even thought about suicide. Now I am 26 years old and even though it has only be a few years I am and feel totally different, I never took medication for I am against overcoming extreme states of mind with medication, BUT that is only me, I do respect if others want or need medication.

What helped me the most is that I got to know, understand and accept myself without judging or wishing I were different, I found many answers within myself and Budism helped a great deal, which I do not see as a religion. I took 1 year of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, CBT, which was helpfull but just the beggining of my trip! I also read and researched a lot about human kind and nature and the life of people I admire and I realized that the types and tags doesnt really matter, what matters is to be at peace within you and make the best out of who or what you are. I do believe strongly we need of everybody and I am starting to think that we all have something to do here, weather it be discovering something to save lives, raising happy children or overcoming hardships in life to latter be an example and inspiration to the new generations.

I must add, in order to start dropping tags and diagnoses I had to research them, understand them well first, once I was inside out I chose to drop the limitations of one diagnose, mental illness, personality type, etc. Also I am just a begginer here! there are lots of people though, who left their work and research for us to use and understand ourselves better, thus understanding everybody and everything. Sheeesh, some rambling here :p

May all of you find peace and happiness!
(btw english is not my first language, hopefully I make sense)

Wow, it's weird how hearing many of you struggle with depression too makes me feel better. Not that I want you to struggle, but knowing I'm not alone helps so much.

Here's a question...if anybody comes across this page in the future and makes it all the way to the bottom...do any of you INFP'ers hate talking on the phone as much as I do? These days I loathe small talk, even though 5 years ago in college I loved it and wanted to meet everyone.

I'm borderline I/E NFP, but the last few years I feel like I've become more of an introvert. Actually, I feel like I have these needs that are impossible to balance...When I'm around people too long I get tired, and when I'm alone too long I get really lonely. And it's hard to treat my loneliness by picking up the phone because I hate talking on the phone...unless I manage to get to some deep topic that really interests me, but I always feel like I'm draining people by being too serious and talking about such heavy things.

Hi doug, I hate talking on the phone too. Of course, when needed, I'm more than happy and willing to provide a listening ear for someone who needs it, but I don't have the habit of calling someone up and talk for half an hour everyday. I work with cell phones but I don't use them much. I'd rather talk face to face. And while I enjoy the company of my family and friends, like you mentioned I do feel drained after a while. I don't usually have the problem of getting lonely if I spend too much time alone because I'm very introverted. Like I mentioned in a recent post here, I tend to leave people out (of my "world") instead of the other way around. I need to be better about this... especially not to push out the people closest and dearest to me.

Oh boy. Reading this has really been enlightening. I have tested as an INFP, strong in each aspect, for a long time now. I'm 28 and have spent the last decade completely unable to find my "path". I have switched jobs oodles of times, and had none for more than 8 months at one time. I dated three different men, then broke up with them, and dated all three over again at least once, within the last 3 years. I just lost the person I thought was my best friend, basically because she judged all of this by telling me I "truly have committment issues", needed to "grow up", realize I wasn't perfect and not blame the world for my problems, etc. I was deeply offended because it hurts me that my behavior could be interpreted that way, I feel misunderstood, and feel that my real problem has nothing to do with thinking I'm perfect, blaming others, or lack of committment-- it intuitively feels more like I have trusted others too much (including her judgement!), not trusted myself enough or respected my uniqueness, and given TOO much committment to the WRONG things, as desperate measures to try to regain stability in my life and feel normal and productive-- it seemed like a vicious cycle of grasping at straws, getting restless, depressed and anxious, then starting all over again.

When I was a kid, my parents always thought something was "chemically" wrong with me, though I never saw a therapist. I was always told by others that I was "weird" and "oversensitive". I was put in the gifted talented section of school...got good grades as a matter of will power, although, I hated my college major (English) and felt something of a fraud for getting the good grades. I had plenty of problems in the workforce, too-- never quite got fired, but was always considered an odd duck, if not the target of blatant derision, and often considered airheaded, scatterbrained, disorganized, way "out there", or just downright strange.

I do wonder if taking a drug would somehow snap me out of my usual state of desperation and anxiety, and help me focus long enough to achieve my goals. I think I hit rock bottom recently, while traveling abroad, alone, in a very stressful situation. I think that was motivation to help me decide, finally, once and for all, to go after a pipe dream I've nursed in the back of my head for years, and go to graduate school (for psychology, hopefully). I decided I'd ruminated long enough on the matter, and needed to stop second-guessing and just do it without letting my usual INFP qualities get in the way. (funny how the same qualities that have the potential to help me become a good psychologist are also doing their best to prevent me from getting there!) While I still battle the anxiety, restlessness, worry, low self-esteem and doubt every day, and am terrified of failure, I have felt happier and more stable since just MAKING this decision. I had to make a few other life alterations as well, which are helping: forced myself to get organized with a calendar, started reading Buddhist stuff, force myself to exercise and get outdoors everyday, avoid spending time with people I feel are judgemental or patronizing, ...etc. One of the difficult things has been friends trying to give advice that, because they simply cannot seem to even begin to understand me, give terrible, and sometimes hurtful advice or value judgements about my character! I have been trying to cultivate compassion towards these people...but at the same time, I've had to isolate myself from them in order to get things on track.

So, I am hoping that my graduate school plan is authentic and not just another desperate move that will wind up in frustration and failure...how is one to know? I also am hoping to overcome my problems without getting on drugs. But wonder if I'd be a good candidate for them, and if they would make this easier!

Great site.
I¡¦m a borderline I/E NFP. I¡¦ve always thought I had ADD and I¡¦ve been in therapy twice. Since Grad School (MSW-Social Worker), I¡¦ve been a Social Worker, Math Teacher, Tennis Instructor, Software Trainer and Software Programmer. I¡¦ve also dabbled in Acting and Writing and Public Speaking****.
I¡¦ve always hoped that I would find a passion. When I love something, I give 100%; unfortunately, I always seem to be let down.
I haven¡¦t seriously thought about relationships because I have such a low tolerance for boredom that I would hate to subject a wife and/or kids to the financial insecurity that results from it.
Although, I¡¦ve never tried anti-depressants, I am a more than recreation user of marijuana. By the way, although I don¡¦t buy into the ¡§pot is the gateway to harder drugs¡¨ crap, it is CRACK for INFPs!!!!! You think 10 times more, but do 10 times less :-)
**** I really like Acting Writing and Public Speaking. It has scared the crap out of me because it opens me up to criticism, and by the time I¡¦ve felt that I actually liked something I¡¦ve created, I¡¦ve rewritten the hell out of it and have missed my audition or a submission deadline. However when overcome my inner critic and I¡¦ve nailed it (speeches, auditions) it has felt great. I¡¦m pushing myself to do more. In addition, the new roles to act or the different subjects to write about is great for the ADDer. Anyway, hang in there fellow INFPs
-steve

Hi all, back a few months later. There is hope for people like us, there is hope and I found some.
Our change for the better needs to be inward, and should include a spiritual slant. Sounds difficult for those who really have no faith, who can't just create a belief out of thin air. I for one can't.
But there is always another way to think about things...
Through meditation you can build disclipline and self acceptance, and respect for reality--three things that INFPs really need.I advise all of you to research a little term called The Witness Consciousness...INFPs have an intense thirst for love and happiness. That is at the core of our soul and it is a beautiful, rare thing in its intensity---and therefore depressed people need to realize that they are more than just their emotions, thoughts and actions. There IS a higher potential, a freedom.
I find that it goes well with a psychological term called Determinism.
Leads to acceptance and peace.
Seriously, guys, there is a way out of depression, I swear it...email me if ever you want to talk.

Life is great when I actually live it. Even if things aren't going according to my desires (my "perfection"), and it's so great to be able to see my agency in the world (that I can effect change). I have always been one to experience the negatives of this personality type (self-doubt, dissillusionment, social anxiety, OCD, clinical depression, procrastination, lack of focus if I'm not interested, being chronically late, struggling in relationships), but I also know our personalities can be sources of strength. Our introverted feeling translates into driven passion in work or for a project. I find I accomplish the most when I feel intensely. (Often I'm ANGRY when that happens, but it can also be another feeling) Intuition has helped me working with people and objects/projects. I think of things which others find useful. I have been learning to allow myself to do things I enjoy or seem to need (alone time) without feeling guilty and lazy and as if I'm procrastinating.

Live long and prosper.

For all INFP ADDers out there:

Have any of you had trouble with ADD medication? I am wondering if my personality type, my "temperment," how I'm wired has anything to do with my negative responses to ADD medicine. So far nothing works: Strattera made me feel exhausted, depressed, congested and foggy; Adderall made my heart race, wore me out, gave me the jitters even on an extremely low dose; Ritalin made me feel sad and depressed when it was wearing off each day. NONE of these gave any positive results. Zero improvement in attention. Are there any INFPs with a similar experience?? Also, do most of you have your ADD compounded by depression? I just got out of school, my ADD was diagnosed a few months ago and this is the most depressed I've been in my life.

great to find this. i think just the process of realising I am an INFP will help me with my issues of self-acceptance. I have pushed myself very hard to be something I am not - organised, efficient, socially outgoing, successful in my study and career. Luckily I am academically sucessful but simply through sheer will power to get the thing done! Anyway the pushing and forcing of my personality has resulted in extreme extreme exhaustion - and by extreme I mean Chronic Fatigue Syndrome extreme -

It is amazing to realise I simply need to come to terms with myself some more to be happier. Yes I am medicated - for depression, migraines - I have been in psychotherapy for years, and suicidal. I love writing more than anything in my life ... I have no issues with ADD though. Otherwise I am a typical INFP!

I have found that thinking what I am going to do with my life and making a concrete decision about it has given me a lot of peace. Try and decide on a goal that you feel is worthwhile and slowly work towards it. Be forgiving of yourself!!

I am going to go off and research Buddhism, and Determinism ... thanks for that :)

xxx

Heavens have parted and I hear singing...ooahhhh!!!

Can relate to most everything. Most likely I have ADD, haven't gotten around to it. I am late all the time and a slob. It drives everyone crazy around me. I have anxiety about giving speeches(mainly on things I don't believe in) and space a lot of the day away it seems. I actually did door to door cold calling for a job for 8 years(copier sales) I have just enough E in me to fake it pretty well. Also, I do bookeeping now for a living(yes, I never thought I could do it. The kicker? I do it at home on my own time. That is the only way I could pull it off. A friend -intj- is my "boss.") Corporate America was the worst for me. I always had to act like everyone else so I would not become the scapegoat in the tribe.

Have known I am an INFP for 10+ years. I was adopted into an TJ family as an infant. OMG, talk about having to build up your own self esteem. And talk about not knowing who you were in ANY way(you counselors take note!! This Myers Briggs stuff is genetic!!lol) All I knew is that I was "irresponsible" and of "average intelligence." Well, I meet my birthfamily and find out they are all really smart-went to the top schools in the country-and they were like me. It p'd me off. Suffice it to say I have had a lot of practice developing a "nurturing inner parent" voice. lol Jungian stuff seminal. Archetypes, as well as type theory explained a lot. Would only see a Jungian/oriented therapist now.

My wife is an INFP so from that perspective we are on the same page. It is great. We are leaning towards home schooling our son for a while because most of organized schooling/grading/testing benefits the T's and J's and why do I want my son to finish behind them in their system at every turn. I enjoy learning so much-but in my own way. I don't like competitive "learning." School ruined learning for me when I was younger. I don't want my son coming home thinking he is a failure at 7 years old like me when I didn't make it into the smart reading group. Maybe when he has a better sense of who he is should he go in that environment. INFP parenting very hard. Probably the hardest type to be a parent. Parenting difficult mainly because you have to be organized and on top of things. Babies have to be on schedules, kids need routines...But we are all so tight as a family. My wife stays home and I work at home and we spend a lot of time together. I love that my own family is so close.

Took Dexidrene ONE TIME. lol Never felt so organized and focused in my life. I thought I could have gone to medical school and had a part time job to boot. I remember thinking, "omg, if this is what the T's and J's are feeling then I am getting so ripped off." I could not go to sleep that night until 4 am and I could not stop cleaning my house. I remember seeing cassette tapes on a window sill I hadn't noticed in a year. It scared me because I had no intuition at all on that drug. None. But man, I could clean and *prioritize.* I use caffiene and sugar mostly now. I tried some ADD meds and they gave me a huge headache. Omega 3's and vitaman B help me. So does St. John's wort.

Before I got married I had a good dating life. Mostly long term rel's. Women liked that they could talk with me(just gay enough is what one of them said.) I waited a long time to get married and have kids-until 42. Probably because of the perfection thing. Also, I read that if 75% of women are feelers then that meant there were probably only 1 million or so INFP men in the country. No wonder I always felt different around other men. Having a sensitive side is not desireable when you are playing sports -lol. Heard the gay rumors -always knew I wasn't, just a plain old sensitive INFP man. Most of my guy friends are either INFP or INTP's. They seem to be the only ones I hang with for very long.

Hopes this helps some of you younger INFP's. God bless you all my peeps!

Heavens have parted and I hear singing...ooahhhh!!!

Can relate to most everything. Most likely I have ADD, haven't gotten around to it. I am late all the time and a slob. It drives everyone crazy around me. I have anxiety about giving speeches(mainly on things I don't believe in) and space a lot of the day away it seems. I actually did door to door cold calling for a job for 8 years(copier sales) I have just enough E in me to fake it pretty well. Also, I do bookeeping now for a living(yes, I never thought I could do it. The kicker? I do it at home on my own time. That is the only way I could pull it off. A friend -intj- is my "boss.") Corporate America was the worst for me. I always had to act like everyone else so I would not become the scapegoat in the tribe.

Have known I am an INFP for 10+ years. I was adopted into an TJ family as an infant. OMG, talk about having to build up your own self esteem. And talk about not knowing who you were in ANY way(you counselors take note!! This Myers Briggs stuff is genetic!!lol) All I knew is that I was "irresponsible" and of "average intelligence." Well, I meet my birthfamily and find out they are all really smart-went to the top schools in the country-and they were like me. It p'd me off. Suffice it to say I have had a lot of practice developing a "nurturing inner parent" voice. lol Jungian stuff seminal. Archetypes, as well as type theory explained a lot. Would only see a Jungian/oriented therapist now.

My wife is an INFP so from that perspective we are on the same page. It is great. We are leaning towards home schooling our son for a while because most of organized schooling/grading/testing benefits the T's and J's and why do I want my son to finish behind them in their system at every turn. I enjoy learning so much-but in my own way. I don't like competitive "learning." School ruined learning for me when I was younger. I don't want my son coming home thinking he is a failure at 7 years old like me when I didn't make it into the smart reading group. Maybe when he has a better sense of who he is should he go in that environment. INFP parenting very hard. Probably the hardest type to be a parent. Parenting difficult mainly because you have to be organized and on top of things. Babies have to be on schedules, kids need routines...But we are all so tight as a family. My wife stays home and I work at home and we spend a lot of time together. I love that my own family is so close.

Took Dexidrene ONE TIME. lol Never felt so organized and focused in my life. I thought I could have gone to medical school and had a part time job to boot. I remember thinking, "omg, if this is what the T's and J's are feeling then I am getting so ripped off." I could not go to sleep that night until 4 am and I could not stop cleaning my house. I remember seeing cassette tapes on a window sill I hadn't noticed in a year. It scared me because I had no intuition at all on that drug. None. But man, I could clean and *prioritize.* I use caffiene and sugar mostly now. I tried some ADD meds and they gave me a huge headache. Omega 3's and vitaman B help me. So does St. John's wort.

Before I got married I had a good dating life. Mostly long term rel's. Women liked that they could talk with me(just gay enough is what one of them said.) I waited a long time to get married and have kids-until 42. Probably because of the perfection thing. Also, I read that if 75% of women are feelers then that meant there were probably only 1 million or so INFP men in the country. No wonder I always felt different around other men. Having a sensitive side is not desireable when you are playing sports -lol. Heard the gay rumors -always knew I wasn't, just a plain old sensitive INFP man. Most of my guy friends are either INFP or INTP's. They seem to be the only ones I hang with for very long.

Hopes this helps some of you younger INFP's. God bless you all my peeps!

WOW!
WOOOW!

You know that feeling of beeing speechless? Well, I'm an INFP and I've been taking antidepressants for a couple of years. I've never been diagnosed as an ADD, but this part describes me perfectly:

"One common misconception about ADD is that many people assume ADDers cannot pay attention. This is completely false. In fact, ADDers are known to "hyperfocus" on anything which captures their attention, to the point where it is difficult to get their attention. It is true, however, that a higher degree of interest is necessary before the ADDer can pay attention."

That's me. And sure, there's always been that thing of never finishing what I start (except when there is a lot of pressure, which makes me feel exhausting, but still works).

The only thing I have to say is that it's good to know that I'm not alone, although meeting this 1% of the population can be tough.

:)

I've come across a good site that talks about workout routines. I think you'll find it very useful:

http://www.weight-lifting-workout-routines.com

hey everyone.i'm an infp and i'm a pisces. i loved what everyone has written. i feel like i've walked into a help group for alcoholics or something lol. :) i am 22 yrs old and i have the absolute worst time making desicions. i listen to everyone else and second guess myself a thousound times. how do i ever know if i'll be able to accomplish my goals? how do i know what i'l be good at? well thanks everyone for the wonderful posts. very helpful. :) muah to everyone :)

This website is the best medicine I have come across in 51 years!!! and I am no stranger to the world of antidrepressants, anti anxiety medication, psychiatry and pyscotherapy.

As I read these posts I think to myself, why do we have to wait so long to find a bit of understanding and clarity? Wouldn't we all have wished for the light to be turned on many years ago? and I'm curious if people could find out their personality type at a much younger age. How old do you have to be for Myers Briggs testing to be accurate?

For a far back as I can remember, I have been misunderstood and so over-sensitive that anxiety has been a permanent state of mind for me. For the past two weeks I have been on pins and needles waiting to hear the outcome of my testing for AD/HD (without the H) and what my physician would prescribe. I got the results just 5 days ago. It turns out that my symptoms of ADHD are "quite significant" and my doctor is taking it slow with the meds by trying out Srattera first.

I basically did the "self diagnosis" that so many of us have to do. For me it all started with an internet search on being messy and unable to part with "stuff" (ie. sentinmental posessions, things I thought I could transform into something more beautiful, and Collections of various things such as "Blue & White china, Old linens and lace, antique cameras and the list goes on and on)

As I was doing this internet research, of course I would follow all manner of other links as ADD people are prone to do, and began to understand myself and why I do the things I do that drive others around me nuts, particularly my husband of 26 years. Suddenly my forgetfulness, sensitivity, low self esteem, procrastination, perfectionism, impatience and a whole host of other shortcomings began to make sense now that I had found other adult women and men that were experiencing the same problems that had plauged them for years.

This is going to be a long post!

I have had quite a few bumps in the road of life, including ther near death of our son during delivery and subsequent hospitalization, losing our business due to two major robberies. First one the thieves broke through the roof of the building next door and tunelled directly into our vault resulting in a huge finacial loss that was not insured as we were just taking over the business and getting insurance quotes. The second robbery 2 years later was by a veitnamese gang from a major city a few hundred miles away that the police couldn't infiltrate and the insurance company buried a very pertinent rule deep in documentation that was 3" thick and refused to pay the claim. We went from a life of comfort and prestige with nice cars, a house that was paid for and memberships to clubs to.. financial strife, and 3 mortgages on our house, loss of 2 incomes and a great deal of marital stress. I became clinically depressed but my husband did not allow "mental ilness" in his family and did not want me on medication. The reason being that his schizophrenic brother had commited suicide a few years before, and as we were losing our business, his mother went into a depression so deep that she required electro shock therapy to bring her back to reality! so therefore I was forbidden to be unstable! The next 3 years brought more problems with job losses and self esteem issues in my husband. If only he had realized it's O.K. to seek help when your world is falling apart and it's not a sign of weakness. Then my son was badly bitten in the face by a friend's dog. He required plastic surgery and laser treatments for months afterwards, next my daughter was hit by a car when she was riding her bike. By this time I was a complete basket case, thinking my life would be filled with nothing but s--- and bad luck. finally I went on medication, and although it helped a bit, I never felt like myself, just a drugged out version of who I used to be. So what did I do? I self medicated with alcohol, very bad move, right. Eventually I came to grips with things and got feeling good again. Wham! I didn't even know what hit me! I was walking our dog for the first time ever, (hubby, who always walks the dog was stiff from working out at the gym so I volunteered to take our miniature schnauzer for his nightly walk). I was barefoot and wearing summer P.J's, it was 10 p.m. and dark out so I figured no one would see me. A few seconds after I left the house, my little boy said "mommy you can't go all by yourself, I'm coming with you" as we rounded the corner to the next street we were charged by 2 full grown German Shepherds! I screamed to my son to get safe in someone's house. These dogs were biting my dogs throat and hind quarters so I scooped him up and ran. The next thing I knew, I was on the sidewalk bleeding from my hands & knees from falling and the two dogs were just waiting with teeth bared. I could feel a strange sensation although I felt no pain but my calf was torn wide open with nerves and muscle spilling out the wide open hole! I grabbed my dog's retractable leash by the string part and started swinging it in an arc to keep them back and I screamed as loud as I could "Help Me" A man came out on his porch with a golf club in his hand and said "come over here" It's amazing what the human body is capable of when it's in schock and I managed to hobble the 100 feet to his porch and up the stairs with those two Sheherds following me the whole way. The lady said "I'll call the ambulance" but I knew I was losing too much blood and asked her to get me something to use as a tourniquet first, and call my husband second so he could locate our son for me. I was scared to death thinking what those two hyped up dogs could do to a boy weighing 60 lbs. When the ambulance arrived, the dogs were right there and so the attendants couldn't get out until the police corralled the 2 dogs. The EMS guys had to revive me as I was unconcious and they spent 20 minutes attending to my wound and stabilizing me before rushing me to the hospital. The emergency Doctor said it looked like a shark attack and the cops that came to take my statement turned green when they saw the carnage and said the would take it the next day. Nobody ever said a thing about PTSD to myself or my husband and we had no idea it even existed. I went through six months of physiotherapy in a depressed state because I couldn't function physically but nothing prepared me for the emotional turmoil I suffered for the next 5 years due to post traumatic stress. I am self employed as an interior decorator and of course lost my income, the woman who owned these 2 dogs was on welfare and had no insurance so in addition to my lost wages I had no legal recourse for compensation of any kind. I would have gone through the entire ordeal again if I could only have suffered the physical aspects including the loss of feeling in my calf due to the nerve damge that couldn't be repaired,and not the emotional hell I lived after this attack. I had constant nightmares, panic attacks and eventually I ended up with agoraphobia. The psychiatrist that I was
treated by had me so doped up I couldn't even make a cup of instant coffee. She convinced me that most of the bad things that had happened in my adult life were due to my husband and so I began to be spiteful towards him. Of course he retaliated by saying " I can't take this anymore, I'm leaving" The strange thing was, I didn't even bat an eyelash, I was drugged to the point of not being able to feel any emotion and I told him that was fine. Of course he didn't really mean it, he was just too frustrated and scared to have a wife that was acting like a robot. The only way I was saved from the worst possible psychiatrist anyone could get was sheer luck. She hired me to redecorate her home while I was her patient! Aside from being totally unprofessional, she perhaps allowed me to glimpse what hell her own personal life was like, a total shambles, and so dysfunctional. It was the wake up call I needed after 2.5 years under her care and nothing but worsening symptoms to say "no more" and I scraped up the money for a decent therapist and within 12 visits I was drug free and on my way to feeling so much better. It took a long time to be free of the panic attacks when I would see a big dark dog, and I s