Personality Type and Recovery
Life Goes On
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 6,069
My partner is ISTP. We are not "supposed" to be compatible.
But what's working for us is that I am INFP/J
I am so in love that I want to understand how he perceives the world. He is so ISTP that understanding isn't important, actiion is.
Because of his example (and Robby's coaching), I've slowly come around to what it means to "just do it" and leave the self-doubt and navel contemplation on the side.
It's not easy, but it's pretty simple.
But what's working for us is that I am INFP/J
I am so in love that I want to understand how he perceives the world. He is so ISTP that understanding isn't important, actiion is.
Because of his example (and Robby's coaching), I've slowly come around to what it means to "just do it" and leave the self-doubt and navel contemplation on the side.
It's not easy, but it's pretty simple.
Night owl
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Orion spur of the Milky Way galaxy
Posts: 2,050
Originally Posted by MycoolFitz 
Used to teach it at the University. Lots of J's here. P's probably forget to post.
Cool thread. All these types makes my head explode but I like the idea of using it to help with recovery choices and how AV might choose to attack, too.
Life Goes On
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 6,069
MTN, be careful what you wish for!
Lyoness, reading about these types has been helpful in accepting my own type (as I said), but it's also helped quite a lot with my understanding of other people in my circle. It's very interesting, this stuff. Not like astrology like I always thought it was!
Lyoness, reading about these types has been helpful in accepting my own type (as I said), but it's also helped quite a lot with my understanding of other people in my circle. It's very interesting, this stuff. Not like astrology like I always thought it was!
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 1,359
Originally Posted by Obladi
MTN, be careful what you wish for!
It could have said you are a 2 legged horse with a pink tail who likes windsurfing and I still would have thought - ohhhh ok then
Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 249
First taking a personality test six years ago I was INTJ.
Three years ago...still an INTJ.
Today...still solidly and INTJ.
I can think my way into, out of, and around everything.
Rationalize everything. So it makes sense to me.
Problem being, what makes sense isn't always rational.
Addiction is such irrational thinking, and yet, makes such perfect sense at the core, why it exists.
So I'm here, looking for possible new input to consider. Always willing to consider the alternatives, so long as they make sense.
Three years ago...still an INTJ.
Today...still solidly and INTJ.
I can think my way into, out of, and around everything.
Rationalize everything. So it makes sense to me.
Problem being, what makes sense isn't always rational.
Addiction is such irrational thinking, and yet, makes such perfect sense at the core, why it exists.
So I'm here, looking for possible new input to consider. Always willing to consider the alternatives, so long as they make sense.
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Down under
Posts: 84
Obladi, I was so glad to discover this post as I have been doing a lot of reading and believe that individual differences call for different recovery approaches. I am an INFP too and was previously in AA, which wasn't working for me. (I do appreciate that it works for others!)
Let's start with breaking down your Meyer's Briggs Personality Type:
I-Introverted (Too much time spent with others drains you of energy. You gain energy by drawing on your own reserves.) Thoughts: Too much time spent in face to face meetings might work against your recovery.
N - Intuitive (You tend to make decisions based on intuition or gut feelings.) Thoughts: You have an internal locus of control (listen to self rather than a group mind). Please view this article: Tom Horvath, Ph.D.: If Not AA, Then What? SMART Recovery and the AA Alternatives
F- Feeling (You process your reality more from a feelings perspective than a thoughts perspective. Thoughts: You might do well with a recovery approach which addresses your needs for an emotional life but which at the same time balances you out. (I think you might have been trying to balance yourself out by trying out AVRT but, at the same time, it may not have addressed your emotional needs.)
P- Perceptive (You prefer a more flexible lifestyle to a structured one.) Thoughts: You are highly creative and could do well to develop your own program, which integrates a number of tools and ideas from different recovery approaches.
While I take trait theories (categorising people into squares) with a grain of salt, I believe that this offers some important clues about what you will respond to most.
You already identified that you were having trouble connecting AVRT because it wasn't hitting you on an emotional level (important for an intuitive, feeling type.) Yet on another level, you hoped that AVRT might cut through your barriers - because you might have sensed that your preference for feeling/perceiving was holding you back from cutting through the bull____?
I am currently looking for recovery alternatives myself and this post has helped me to expand my ideas. While I will not put too much emphasis upon which `category' I fall into, this is giving me direction. Thanks!
Let's start with breaking down your Meyer's Briggs Personality Type:
I-Introverted (Too much time spent with others drains you of energy. You gain energy by drawing on your own reserves.) Thoughts: Too much time spent in face to face meetings might work against your recovery.
N - Intuitive (You tend to make decisions based on intuition or gut feelings.) Thoughts: You have an internal locus of control (listen to self rather than a group mind). Please view this article: Tom Horvath, Ph.D.: If Not AA, Then What? SMART Recovery and the AA Alternatives
F- Feeling (You process your reality more from a feelings perspective than a thoughts perspective. Thoughts: You might do well with a recovery approach which addresses your needs for an emotional life but which at the same time balances you out. (I think you might have been trying to balance yourself out by trying out AVRT but, at the same time, it may not have addressed your emotional needs.)
P- Perceptive (You prefer a more flexible lifestyle to a structured one.) Thoughts: You are highly creative and could do well to develop your own program, which integrates a number of tools and ideas from different recovery approaches.
While I take trait theories (categorising people into squares) with a grain of salt, I believe that this offers some important clues about what you will respond to most.
You already identified that you were having trouble connecting AVRT because it wasn't hitting you on an emotional level (important for an intuitive, feeling type.) Yet on another level, you hoped that AVRT might cut through your barriers - because you might have sensed that your preference for feeling/perceiving was holding you back from cutting through the bull____?
I am currently looking for recovery alternatives myself and this post has helped me to expand my ideas. While I will not put too much emphasis upon which `category' I fall into, this is giving me direction.
Thanks!
Life Goes On
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 6,069
Originally Posted by CommunityDawn
Obladi, I was so glad to discover this post as I have been doing a lot of reading and believe that individual differences call for different recovery approaches. I am an INFP too and was previously in AA, which wasn't working for me. (I do appreciate that it works for others!)
Let's start with breaking down your Meyer's Briggs Personality Type:
I-Introverted (Too much time spent with others drains you of energy. You gain energy by drawing on your own reserves.) Thoughts: Too much time spent in face to face meetings might work against your recovery.
I-Introverted (Too much time spent with others drains you of energy. You gain energy by drawing on your own reserves.) Thoughts: Too much time spent in face to face meetings might work against your recovery.
N - Intuitive (You tend to make decisions based on intuition or gut feelings.) Thoughts: You have an internal locus of control (listen to self rather than a group mind). Please view this article: Tom Horvath, Ph.D.: If Not AA, Then What? SMART Recovery and the AA Alternatives.
F- Feeling (You process your reality more from a feelings perspective than a thoughts perspective. Thoughts: You might do well with a recovery approach which addresses your needs for an emotional life but which at the same time balances you out. (I think you might have been trying to balance yourself out by trying out AVRT but, at the same time, it may not have addressed your emotional needs.)]
It's a funny thing to figure out how to balance - "knowing" the answer immediately but still having this "feeling" stuff. I think there is a way to do it and I think I'm getting there... just need to step outside of my comfort zone a bit more and learn to cast aside the "shoulds" at times to allow myself to receive support that helps me to move forward.
P- Perceptive (You prefer a more flexible lifestyle to a structured one.) Thoughts: You are highly creative and could do well to develop your own program, which integrates a number of tools and ideas from different recovery approaches.
But yeah, I think INF types may have a particular need to "take what works" from a variety of approaches. The hard part is in actually developing a synthesized and consistent "program" doing this. It's lovely going with the ebb and flow and all that, but at some point the pedal has to hit the metal, the pot needs to be pissed in or gotten off of, the rubber needs to meet the road.... you know?
While I take trait theories (categorising people into squares) with a grain of salt, I believe that this offers some important clues about what you will respond to most.
I am currently looking for recovery alternatives myself and this post has helped me to expand my ideas. While I will not put too much emphasis upon which `category' I fall into, this is giving me direction. Thanks!
Thanks!
Look forward to any sharing you choose to do about those expanding ideas.
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Melbourne, Victoria Australia
Posts: 1,202
Hi there crew,
I've come into this long running thread late - though checked out some of the first posts a while ago.
I just want to affirm absolutely everything just posted by Community Dawn and Obladi's reply. Me to a TEE! This, despite doing a Myers Briggs a few years ago: from memory (I'll have to find the paperwork to check), I vaguely recall there was an E there somewhere.
Having thought about this stuff recently: I believe that my Extrovert aspects became a performative coping mechanism throughout my life (many 'natural' I's report the same). And as soooo many drunks report: well, waddya know? I used alcohol in order to 'fit in' with others, let loose with others esp at parties and such function, to try to quell the desire to just run away from the crowds and the interminable chatter, etc etc.
I became pretty good at the extrovert performance, so much so that I came to believe that it was truly a natural part of me.
But in this most recent recovery from alcohol (a year or more, broken up by a few relapses), some months ago, and more and more now, I've realised that I want to (yes, WANT TO) re-align my self and daily life with my 'Inner Introvert'. heheh. Sounds a bit bletchy / New Age, but it is who I really am. As well as all those three other features you guys described.
Such a f*^&%ing relief!
I've come into this long running thread late - though checked out some of the first posts a while ago.
I just want to affirm absolutely everything just posted by Community Dawn and Obladi's reply. Me to a TEE! This, despite doing a Myers Briggs a few years ago: from memory (I'll have to find the paperwork to check), I vaguely recall there was an E there somewhere.
Having thought about this stuff recently: I believe that my Extrovert aspects became a performative coping mechanism throughout my life (many 'natural' I's report the same). And as soooo many drunks report: well, waddya know? I used alcohol in order to 'fit in' with others, let loose with others esp at parties and such function, to try to quell the desire to just run away from the crowds and the interminable chatter, etc etc.
I became pretty good at the extrovert performance, so much so that I came to believe that it was truly a natural part of me.
But in this most recent recovery from alcohol (a year or more, broken up by a few relapses), some months ago, and more and more now, I've realised that I want to (yes, WANT TO) re-align my self and daily life with my 'Inner Introvert'. heheh. Sounds a bit bletchy / New Age, but it is who I really am. As well as all those three other features you guys described.
Such a f*^&%ing relief!
Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Melbourne, Victoria Australia
Posts: 1,202
Also on the topic of introversion (apols if it's being already posted):
Introversion and Addiction
I'm also keen to buy a couple of recent books on introverts in general - there's been quite a resurgence of interest in affirming introverts for just being who we are, without all the judgement and stresses we get from Western capitalist extrovert-oriented society. One such book is called something like 'Quiet! The Power of Introverts in a World That Won't Shut up' by Susan somebody (just google it).
Introversion and Addiction
I'm also keen to buy a couple of recent books on introverts in general - there's been quite a resurgence of interest in affirming introverts for just being who we are, without all the judgement and stresses we get from Western capitalist extrovert-oriented society. One such book is called something like 'Quiet! The Power of Introverts in a World That Won't Shut up' by Susan somebody (just google it).
Life Goes On
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 6,069
bemyself, when I challenge my project manager (the one who had us all take this assessment) to guess, he couldn't quite decide whether I was an E or an I.
I said, "I'm an I who has learned to act like an E when necessary."
Off to view the link you posted - thanks. (And I love the title of the book you mention - might have to buy it just for that reason. I've been known to do that....)
I said, "I'm an I who has learned to act like an E when necessary."
Off to view the link you posted - thanks. (And I love the title of the book you mention - might have to buy it just for that reason. I've been known to do that....)
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