Are you close to an INTP who has been feeling down lately? Do you want to help but don’t know how?
INTPs can be complex individuals who struggle with expressing their emotions, especially when it comes to depression. As a friend or family member, it can be challenging to know how to support them without making things worse.
In this article, we will explore the different stages of INTP depression and provide practical tips on how to help your loved one through this difficult time.
So, grab a cup of coffee and get ready to learn how to care for your INTP with compassion and understanding.
How To Help A Depressed INTP
1. Encourage Them To Seek Professional Help
The first step in helping a depressed INTP is to encourage them to seek professional help. Mental health professionals can teach them healthier ways to cope with their feelings and provide them with the support they need to overcome their depression.
2. Be Patient And Understanding
INTPs tend to suppress their emotions and rationalize their situations, making it difficult for them to express themselves. It’s important to be patient and understanding with them, even if they seem distant or unresponsive.
3. Create A Safe Space For Them
INTPs need a safe space to retreat to when they’re feeling overwhelmed or depressed. As a friend or family member, you can create this space for them by being there for them when they need you and giving them enough space to figure things out on their own.
4. Reduce External Pressure
INTPs can feel pressure from the external world, which can worsen their depression. It’s essential to reduce this pressure by being supportive and understanding of their needs.
5. Allow Them To Express Their Feelings
INTPs may struggle with expressing their emotions, but it’s crucial to allow them to do so. Encourage them to talk about how they’re feeling and listen without judgment.
6. Spend Time With Them
Spending time with your INTP friend or family member can help lift their spirits and provide them with the support they need. However, it’s important to respect their need for alone time and not push them too hard.
7. Don’t Ignore The Depression
Ignoring the depression completely is not a good idea as it can cause the INTP to sink deeper into it. It’s essential to acknowledge the depression and offer support and encouragement.
Understanding INTP Depression
INTP depression manifests differently from other types of depression. INTPs tend to suppress their emotions and may even try to push themselves to do things to reduce their sadness and restore their original mood state. They may also try to socialize with others, but this does not come naturally to them, and they may feel exhausted and need to revert inward. This inwardness may further worsen their depression. INTPs like to spend long periods of time alone, as this is the method they use to ease their discomfort in any situation, and they may feel this need even more when they experience depression.
INTP depression can be challenging for others to notice as INTPs often seem indifferent to other people because of their introverted tendencies. However, those around them may notice emotional outbursts, which is surprising as INTPs typically stay quite reserved with their emotions. The pressure from the external world can also worsen an INTP’s depression, and if they feel pressure from people closest to them as well, it might result in them snapping and aggression directed at those people.
INTPs always need a safe place to retreat to, and an INTP in depression needs it more than others. The people close to them might want to be around, but at the same time leave them enough space to figure things out. It’s also important to give the INTP free rein to feel whatever they are feeling. People with an INTP personality are more prone to developing depression, and it’s crucial to understand their unique needs and tendencies when trying to help them overcome their depression.
Signs And Symptoms Of INTP Depression
INTPs are known for being controlled about their emotions, and when they experience depression, it can be challenging to detect. However, there are some signs and symptoms you can look out for, including:
1. Isolation
INTPs tend to spend long periods of time alone, but when they’re depressed, they may isolate themselves even more.
2. Lack Of Motivation
When an INTP is depressed, they may lose all motivation and inspiration, making it difficult for them to complete tasks or pursue their interests.
3. Emotional Outbursts
While INTPs typically suppress their emotions, when they’re depressed, they may have emotional outbursts that seem out of character.
4. Indifference
INTPs can appear indifferent to others even when they’re not depressed. However, when they’re experiencing depression, their indifference may be more pronounced.
5. Aggression
If an INTP feels pressure from the external world or those closest to them, it may result in aggression directed at those people.
6. Exhaustion
INTPs may feel exhausted from trying to socialize or push themselves to do things that are not natural for them in an attempt to combat their depression.
7. Emotional Instability
INTPs in depression may experience emotional instability and mood swings that seem uncharacteristic of their usual behavior.
It’s important to note that not all INTPs will exhibit these signs and symptoms of depression. Still, if you notice any of these behaviors in an INTP you know or care about, it’s crucial to offer support and encourage them to seek professional help.
The Different Stages Of INTP Depression
INTP depression can manifest in different stages or phases. In the initial stages, the INTP may try to push themselves to do things and might even try new things to reduce their sadness and restore their original mood state. They may also try to socialize with others and form new connections or strengthen old ones to get a handle on the depression. However, because socializing does not come naturally to them, the INTP may often feel exhausted and need to revert inward. At the same time, the mental exhaustion may further worsen their depression.
As the depression progresses, the INTP may start to isolate themselves from the world and cut themselves off. They may spend long periods of time alone, which is their method of easing discomfort in any situation. The INTP may also become indifferent to other people because of their introverted tendencies, making it hard for others to notice that they are depressed.
In some cases, the INTP experiencing depression may have emotional outbursts, which can be surprising as INTPs typically stay reserved with their emotions. They may also feel pressure from the external world, and if they feel this pressure from people closest to them as well, it might result in them snapping and aggression directed at those people.
When INTPs experience depression, they tend to suppress their emotions and rationalize their situations. They look for logic in understanding their issues and do not express themselves easily. Finding a mental health practitioner is especially necessary at this time as they can teach patients more adaptive, healthier ways to cope with and appropriately express their feelings.
How To Approach And Communicate With A Depressed INTP
Approaching and communicating with a depressed INTP can be challenging, but it’s essential to do so in a way that is supportive and non-judgmental. Here are some tips on how to approach and communicate with a depressed INTP:
1. Be Direct
INTPs tend to appreciate direct communication, so it’s important to be straightforward when talking to them about their depression. Avoid beating around the bush or sugar-coating things.
2. Listen Without Judgment
When an INTP opens up about their depression, it’s crucial to listen without judgment. Avoid giving unsolicited advice or trying to “fix” their problems. Instead, offer empathy and support.
3. Respect Their Need For Space
INTPs need alone time to recharge and process their thoughts and feelings. Respect their need for space and avoid pushing them to talk or socialize if they’re not ready.
4. Offer Practical Support
Depression can make even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming. Offer practical support, such as helping with household chores or running errands, to ease some of the burden.
5. Avoid Criticizing Them
INTPs are often self-critical, so it’s important to avoid criticizing them or making them feel worse about themselves. Instead, focus on highlighting their strengths and offering encouragement.
6. Be Patient
Recovering from depression takes time, and it’s important to be patient with the INTP throughout the process. Avoid pressuring them to “get better” or expecting immediate results.
7. Encourage Them To Seek Professional Help
While you can offer support as a friend or family member, it’s important to encourage the INTP to seek professional help if they haven’t already done so. A mental health professional can provide them with the tools and resources they need to overcome their depression.
Practical Tips For Supporting A Depressed INTP
1. Be available to listen: INTPs may not be comfortable expressing their emotions, but it’s important to let them know that you’re there to listen if they need to talk.
2. Offer practical help: Offer to help with tasks that may feel overwhelming to the INTP, such as cooking a meal or running errands.
3. Avoid judgment: INTPs may already feel inadequate or like they’re not measuring up, so it’s important to avoid any judgmental comments or actions.
4. Encourage self-care: Encourage the INTP to take care of themselves by practicing self-care activities, such as exercise, meditation, or getting enough sleep.
5. Be patient with progress: Recovery from depression is a slow process, and it’s important to be patient with the INTP’s progress and not push them too hard.
6. Educate yourself: Learn more about depression and how it affects INTPs specifically. This can help you better understand what they’re going through and how to support them.
7. Seek support for yourself: Supporting a depressed INTP can be emotionally taxing, so it’s important to seek support for yourself as well. Consider talking to a therapist or joining a support group for family members of those with depression.
Encouraging Professional Help For INTPs With Depression
Encouraging INTPs to seek professional help for their depression is essential. As mentioned earlier, INTPs tend to suppress their emotions and rationalize their situations, making it difficult for them to express themselves. They need the guidance and support of a mental health professional who can teach them healthier ways to cope with their feelings and provide them with the tools needed to overcome their depression.
It’s important to understand that seeking professional help is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength. Encourage your INTP friend or family member to schedule an appointment with a mental health professional, whether it’s a therapist, counselor, or psychiatrist. If they’re hesitant or resistant, offer to help them find a mental health professional who specializes in treating depression.
Once they’ve made the decision to seek professional help, offer your support and encouragement throughout the process. Attend appointments with them if they feel comfortable with it, and check in on them regularly to see how they’re doing. Remember that recovery from depression takes time and patience, and it’s essential to be there for your INTP friend or family member every step of the way.
