Your Myers-Briggs (MBTI) Personality Type, Stressors, and Stress Reducers

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Your Myers-Briggs (MBTI) Personality Type, Stressors, and Stress Reducers

Posted 09 April 2024 by
Melissa Summer
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12 min. read

How stressed are you right now?

And how much of that stress is due to things under your control vs. things that you really can’t control?

If our pandemic years have taught us anything, it’s that some things that cause stress aren’t things we can control: global disease, politician’s actions, and really other people’s actions.

BUT there’s a lot we can do by increasing our own self-awareness to recognize our stress triggers, and do what we can to take care of ourselves to decrease our overall stress levels.

Every April, we at The Myers-Briggs Company take a close look at our own stress levels as April is National Stress Awareness Month. Then we see what we can share that might help others. Just like your Myers-Briggs personality preferences can tell you about similarities or differences in personality, Myers-Briggs personality type can tell you about what likely gets on your nerves most.

What is stress? Dictionary.com defines stress (related to physiology) as “a specific response be the body to a stimulus, as fear or pain, that disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium.”The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) defines stress as “harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job don’t match the capabilities or resources of the worker.”

Check out the below to see what stresses out each MBTI type, what it looks like when each type is under stress, and how each Myers-Briggs personality type can reduce their stress levels and protect their well-being.

ISTJ

What stresses ISTJ types?

What does stress look like for ISTJ types?

For people with these preferences, the favorite process is introverted Sensing. Signs of stress for them might be obsessing about unimportant information, or being overly dogmatic.

What can ISTJ types do to reduce stress?

Now that you know the signs of stress for your type, one remedy might be to take some time alone to appreciate the details around you. Or think about other times when stressful situations ended positively.

Want to learn more about the ISTJ personality type strengths, common careers, relationships, and more? Check out this ISTJ personality type page.

ISFJ

What stresses ISFJ types?

What does stress look like for ISFJ types?

For people with these preferences, the favorite process is introverted Sensing. Signs of stress for them might be obsessing about unimportant information, or being overly dogmatic.

What can ISFJ types do to reduce stress?

Now that you know the signs of stress for your type, one remedy might be to take some time alone to appreciate the details around you. Or think about other times when stressful situations ended positively.

Want to learn more about the ISTJ personality type strengths, common careers, relationships, and more? Check out this ISFJ personality type page.

INFJ

What stresses INFJ types?

What does stress look like for INFJ types?

For people with these preferences, the favorite process is introverted Intuition. Signs of stress for them might be forcing data to fit their pattern or practical meaning or retreating inward.

What can INFJ types do to reduce stress?

Now that you know the signs of stress for your type, one remedy might be to ensure you schedule some downtime or time for yourself to re-energize.

Want to learn more about the ISTJ personality type strengths, common careers, relationships, and more? Check out this INFJ personality type page.

INTJ

What stresses INTJ types?

What does stress look like for INTJ types?

For people with these preferences, the favorite process is introverted Intuition. Signs of stress for them might be forcing data to fit their pattern or practical meaning or retreating inward.

What can INTJ types do to reduce stress?

Now that you know the signs of stress for your type, one remedy might be to ensure you schedule some downtime or time for yourself to re-energize.

Want to learn more about the INTJ personality type strengths, common careers, relationships, and more? Check out this INTJ personality type page.

ISTP

What stresses ISTP types?

What does stress look like for ISTP types? For people with these preferences, the favorite process is introverted Thinking. Signs of stress for them might be getting lost in concentration, or becoming detached from others.

What can ISTP types do to reduce stress? Now that you know the signs of stress for your type, one remedy might be to take time to regroup. Try to mentally take yourself out of the situation for a different vantage point.

Want to learn more about the ISTP personality type strengths, common careers, relationships, and more? Check out this ISTP personality type page.

ISFP

What stresses ISFP types?

What does stress look like for ISFP types?

For people with these preferences, the favorite process is introverted Feeling. Signs of stress for them might be trying to “rescue” people who haven’t requested help or becoming hypersensitive to the point that they end up isolating themselves.

What can ISFP types do to reduce stress?

Now that you know the signs of stress for your type spend as much time alone as you need. Focus on what’s right rather than what’s wrong.

Want to learn more about the ISFP personality type strengths, common careers, relationships, and more? Check out this ISFP personality type page.

INFP

What stresses INFP types?

What does stress look like for INFP types?

For people with these preferences, the favorite process is introverted Feeling. Signs of stress for them might be trying to “rescue” people who haven’t requested help or becoming hypersensitive to the point that they end up isolating themselves.

What can INFP types do to reduce stress?

Now that you know the signs of stress for your MBTI type, spend as much time alone as you need. Focus on what’s right rather than what’s wrong.

Want to learn more about the INFP personality type strengths, common careers, relationships, and more? Check out this INFP personality type page.

INTP

What stresses INTP types?

What does stress look like for INTP types?

For people with these preferences, the favorite process is introverted Thinking. Signs of stress for them might be getting lost in concentration, or becoming detached from others.

What can INTP types do to reduce stress?

Now that you know the signs of stress for your MBTI type, one remedy might be to take time to regroup. Try to mentally take yourself out of the situation for a different vantage point.

Want to learn more about the INTP personality type strengths, common careers, relationships, and more? Check out this INTP personality type page.

ESTP

What stresses ESTP types?

What does stress look like for ESTP types?

For people with these preferences, the favorite process is extraverted Sensing. Signs of stress for them might be speaking or acting without thinking, or being very blunt or curt.

What can ESTP types do to reduce stress?

Now that you know the signs of stress for your MBTI type, we suggest that this type not forget to ask others for help. Even if it’s just a little reassurance, reach out to others when you’re stressed.

Want to learn more about the ESTP personality type strengths, common careers, relationships, and more? Check out this ESTP personality type page.

ESFP

What stresses ESFP types?

What does stress look like for ESFP types?

For people with these preferences, the favorite process is extraverted Sensing. Signs of stress for them might be speaking or acting without thinking, or being very blunt or curt.

What can ESFP types do to reduce stress?

Now that you know the signs of stress for your MBTI type, we suggest that this type not forget to ask others for help. Even if it’s just a little reassurance, reach out to others when you’re stressed.

Want to learn more about the ESFP personality type strengths, common careers, relationships, and more? Check out this ESFP personality type page.

ENFP

What stresses ENFP types?

What does stress look like for ENFP types?

For people with these preferences, the favorite process is extraverted Intuition. Signs of stress for them might be wanting to make change just for the sake of novelty, or feeling so swamped with options that they’re unable to make a decision.

What can ENFP types do to reduce stress?

Now that you know the signs of stress for your MBTI type, make sure to pay attention to your physical needs, such as the need for exercise. Also remember that sometimes it’s OK to say no.

Want to learn more about the ENFP personality type strengths, common careers, relationships, and more? Check out this ENFP personality type page.

ENTP

What stresses ENTP types?

What does stress look like for ENTP types?

For people with these preferences, the favorite process is extraverted Intuition. Signs of stress for them might be wanting to make change just for the sake of novelty, or feeling so swamped with options that they’re unable to make a decision.

What can ENTP types do to reduce stress?

Now that you know the signs of stress for your MBTI type, make sure to pay attention to your physical needs, such as the need for exercise. Also remember that sometimes it’s OK to say no.

Want to learn more about the ENTP personality type strengths, common careers, relationships, and more? Check out this ENTP personality type page.

ESTJ

What stresses ESTJ types?

What does stress look like for ESTJ types?

For people with these preferences, the favorite process is extraverted Thinking. Signs of stress for them might be insisting that everything be rational, or oversimplifying for the sake of clarity.

What can ESTJ types do to reduce stress?

Now that you know the signs of stress for your MBTI type, try to remedy that stress by doing some physical activity or talking to someone close to you.

Want to learn more about the ESTJ personality type strengths, common careers, relationships, and more? Check out this ESTJ personality type page.

ESFJ

What stresses ESFJ types?

What does stress look like for ESFJ types?

For people with these preferences, the favorite process is extraverted Feeling. Signs of stress for them might be becoming intrusive or prying, or losing focus and becoming scattered.

What can ESFJ types do to reduce stress?

Now that you know the signs of stress for your MBTI type, one remedy might be to talk things over with someone outside the situation. In addition, be sure to take time to refocus on your values.

Want to learn more about the ESFJ personality type strengths, common careers, relationships, and more? Check out this ESFJ personality type page.

ENFJ

What stresses ENFJ types?

What does stress look like for ENFJ types?

For people with these preferences, the favorite process is extraverted Feeling. Signs of stress for them might be becoming intrusive or prying, or losing focus and becoming scattered.

What can ENFJ types do to reduce stress?

Now that you know the signs of stress for your MBTI type, one remedy might be to talk things over with someone outside the situation. In addition, be sure to take time to refocus on your values.

Want to learn more about the ENFJ personality type strengths, common careers, relationships, and more? Check out this ENFJ personality type page.

ENTJ

What stresses ENTJ types?

What does stress look like for ENTJ types?

For people with these preferences, the favorite process is extraverted Thinking. Signs of stress for them might be insisting that everything be rational, or oversimplifying for the sake of clarity.

What can ENTJ types do to reduce stress?

Now that you know the signs of stress for your MBTI type, try to remedy that stress by doing some physical activity or talking to someone close to you.

Want to learn more about the ENTJ personality type strengths, common careers, relationships, and more? Check out this ENTJ personality type page.

Identifying stress in your own life

Ready to take some action around decreasing your own stress? Write down the last 4-5 times you were stressed out recently. Then for each stressor, answer the below questions:

  1. Was the cause of stress something I could control (I didn’t study enough for an exam or presentation)? Or was it something that was out of my control (my roommates or kids were fighting with each other)?
  2. If there were other people involved in the situation, did you let them know about your feelings of stress (because sometimes what stresses you out may be no big deal to someone else).
  3. What could you have done to help yourself feel less stressed during the situation? Some examples of this could be calling or messaging someone who cares about you to vent, journaling or writing down your feelings and experiences, removing yourself from the situation, going for a walk or just being outside in nature, meditating, doing something to get your mind off the situation such as playing video games?

More ways to de-stress

In addition to the above specific ways to de-stress for each Myers-Briggs personality type, there are also a few things that work for almost everyone when it comes to reducing stress. Here are three of those remedies:

  1. Move Around
    A great way to deal with stress is to get up and move. Whether that be going for a quick walk outside, flowing through a few heart-pumping sun salutations, or even doing jumping jacks or sit-ups, these are all ways to get your blood moving and help calm you down. "Exercise relaxes tense muscles that become tight and rigid when you experience stress," says Kathleen Hall, chief executive of The Stress Institute in Atlanta, Georgia, an educational and training firm that focuses on the effects of stress and how to relieve it. "Exercise delivers oxygen to the brain, vital organs, and muscles immediately and produces endorphins that soothe your mind and body."
  2. Do a Stress Check
    Some recommend doing a stress check to try to figure out how stressed you are. Are your shoulders hunched up next to your ears? Are you leaning over in a position that could hurt your back? Are you pacing or bouncing your legs up and down? Is your breathing shallow and quick?

    Taking a mental note of these physical symptoms of stress and then actively trying to eliminate them (e.g., by lowering and relaxing your shoulders, sitting up straight) will help reduce your stress immediately. Speaking of breathing…
  3. Breathing exercises
    Find a quiet place and take five minutes to slow your breathing. Take a deep breath in through your nose, hold it for a count of three, then slowly let it out through your mouth. Or try what stress expert Wendy Duncan calls “heart coherence” breathing. First, place your left hand over your heart, then imagine your breath flowing through your heart. Take four counts to breathe in and another four counts to breathe out. Then imagine the feelings of love, joy, or compassion radiating out of you like beams of light.

    "This method was discovered in the late 1970s during heart transplant research," says Duncan, founder of Wendy Duncan International in Redmond, Oregon, which offers stress-relief programs, retreats, and workshops. According to Duncan, "The key finding is that your heart has its own brain and intelligence. Heart activity impacts you dramatically and others around you. Synchronizing your heart and mind has immediate benefits in relieving stress."

Stress resilience mini course included with MBTIonline.com

Have you already taken the Myers-Briggs assessment through this site? If so, then you have access to a learning course all about stress and your specific personality type. You’ll be able to understand and deal with stress, including how you tend to react in stressful situations and the best way to manage stress for yourself.

Login to MBTIonline.com (the information you used to take the assessment) to start this course and put your MBTI type knowledge into action.

If you haven’t taken the MBTI assessment and found out your official personality type yet, what are you waiting for? In addition to your MBTI personality type and better understanding of yourself, you’ll get access to a personalizes resilience course to help you better manage your own stress. Other courses included in the purchase of MBTIonline include relationships and communication.

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