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    #16
    Introversion and Alcohol

    what if

    HoldingPattern;954922 wrote: The term "introversion" was coined by Carl Jung, along with its antonym, "extraversion", as described in this quote from wikipedia (bolding emphasis mine):

    [/SIZE]

    From as far back as I can remember, I've been an introvert. I'm talking as a child, way back before AL ever entered the picture. Notice that "introverted" does not equate to "shy" or "social anxiety". I'm not shy and have very well developed social and communication skills... but I really like being alone. I'm talking almost to hermit levels. I enjoy (prefer, actually) doing lot's of "normal" activities alone: playing computer games, going to the beach/surfing, cooking, playing music, etc.

    Anyway, while thinking about my alcohol use, I started realizing how much more time over the past decade I was spending alone drinking at home, which seemed also to be increasing with time. I was still doing the above sorts of activities, with the outdoorsy ones being during the day while not drinking. I had always been in touch with my introveted tendencies and it never really bothered me.

    But then I began wondering if my alcohol use was making me even more introverted/isolated. At first, it seemed like the obvious answer was, "yeah, duh! addict brain defending its drinking time". But now I'm not so sure. During recent days and weeks when not drinking my introverted tendencies don't feel any different at all-- I still want to be alone, but I read or worked or played games or whatever instead of drinking. And as I mentioned in the beginning, I was like this before I had ever experienced alcohol. Hmm.

    So, I started this thread for couple reasons:
    - to explore for myself whether alcohol and introversion are at all linked within myself (being introspective! )
    - to see if any people here could relate-- most of you all seem crazy-extraverted to me! (maybe that's just your online personas?)
    - to see if any other interesting ideas/discussion would come out of it.

    Anyone care to weigh in?
    to be or not to be,that is the question,what if one were both,i can see me as both,drinking or not drinking,no wonder they put me in the loonie bin,hahaha,i like what doggy lady said,NORMAL,what is normal,that question is known only from the one looking to the inside,or is it from the one looking from out wards,master jung,was quoted as saying there is no hope for these kinds of people,hopeless,Us more or less,or did he mean for primitive man and women,what youer asking is for the intellectual woman or man,many addicted mindeded are very intelligent in one way or another,but not intelligent to figure out drinking is not normal ? good thread :goodjob::thanks:gyco

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      #17
      Introversion and Alcohol

      Wow, what a great topic. I think most people I know would consider me to be an extrovert, but I've just got so darn good at "presenting well" that very few people know how introverted I really am. I enjoy my own company, my own space, my own quest in life and after a lifetime of co-dependent behaviours combined with undiagnosed (until this year) ADHD, I just want to be with myself and find out who I really am under the mess...of course I prefer to drink alone as well.
      :h Mish :h
      sigpic
      Never give up...
      GET UP!!!

      AF since 25th November, 2011

      What might have been is an abstraction
      Remaining a perpetual possibility
      Only in a world of speculation.
      What might have been and what has been
      Point to one end, which is always present. T.S. Eliot

      Comment


        #18
        Introversion and Alcohol

        Sheri, thanks for that link...I'm an INFJ. which seemed to hit the nail on the head pretty well.
        :h Mish :h
        sigpic
        Never give up...
        GET UP!!!

        AF since 25th November, 2011

        What might have been is an abstraction
        Remaining a perpetual possibility
        Only in a world of speculation.
        What might have been and what has been
        Point to one end, which is always present. T.S. Eliot

        Comment


          #19
          Introversion and Alcohol

          Pride
          AF since July 15, 2010. :applouse:
          "People who drink to drown their sorrow should be told that sorrow knows how to swim." —Ann Landers

          Comment


            #20
            Introversion and Alcohol

            INTJ here...

            The instructor who led my Meyers-Briggs assessment relayed a very interesting analogy to convey the meanings of introvert and extrovert. It?s all based on an individual?s energy source as it relates to personal interactions. Think of it this way ? an introvert wakes up each day with a bag full of coins. Each personal interaction costs the introvert a coin. As they go throughout the day, the introvert continues to spend their coins so that at the end of the day, their bag of coins is EMPTY. In essence, the introvert expends all of their energy throughout the day based on their personal interactions.

            On the other hand, the extrovert
            wakes up each day with an empty money bag. However, the extrovert collects coins throughout the day as they proceed with making personal interactions. As the day progresses, the extrovert becomes more energized because their money bag gets fuller with coins.

            This may seem like a simple analogy but it holds very true for me. I am an extreme introvert and I am much more comfortable being by myself and isolated from others because frankly, it just takes too much darn energy for me to make personal interactions. When I tell people this about myself, they have a surprised reaction because most people think that I am very ?sociable?. So, yes, I am ?sociable? but it comes with a price (all of those coins from my money bag)!!

            I really don?t see a connection between my introversion and my alcoholism. I know just as many extroverts who have drinking problems. The similarity that I do see is one?s preferences with how they drink. To no surprise, I only drank seriously when I was by myself. Rarely did I get intoxicated in a group of others. Again, this was my comfort zone. Why spend energy dealing with other people when I could have my vodka all to myself? Plus, I know many extroverts with drinking problems who rarely, if ever, drink by themselves. They prefer to drink in groups ? soaking up all the energy they can muster!
            John
            AF since 7/13/2010

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              #21
              Introversion and Alcohol

              So, so true for me too, John.
              AF since July 15, 2010. :applouse:
              "People who drink to drown their sorrow should be told that sorrow knows how to swim." —Ann Landers

              Comment


                #22
                Introversion and Alcohol

                INTJ Here as well.....it had been about 15 years since I went through the Myers-Brigg program, so true to form, I went back and took the test again and then read through all of the material!LOL

                John, thank you for that analogy on the difference between Introvert and Extrovert. In my mind, that says it all! In my sobriety, one of the important things that I have learned is to conserve my own energy and I often say that I cannot allow the "energy leaches" to drain me! I am certain that this draining is most often not done intentionally, but it is up to me to take steps in order to stay healthy!

                I also do not think that my Introvert nature has anything to do with my drinking. In fact, I really wonder if our friends the Extroverts don't have a rougher go of sobriety due to their need to be constantly out and about and interacting??
                K
                A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes~Cinderella

                AF 12/6/2007

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                  #23
                  Introversion and Alcohol

                  Another ISFJ here.

                  I scored a 61% on the Introvert scale.

                  Comment


                    #24
                    Introversion and Alcohol

                    thanks for the link. im INFJ, which surprised me with the very expressed introvert. interesting stuff
                    Today is the tomorrow i worried about yesterday and it turned out fine
                    Keep passing the open windows

                    Comment


                      #25
                      Introversion and Alcohol

                      HoldingPattern;955017 wrote: This makes me curious: what's your MBTI type and the corresponding "wrong" profession?
                      Hi all INTJ's...that's me to a tee!

                      I usually get agitated and anxious if I have to be around a number of people for a prolonged period of time. Ever since I was young...we lived next to the library and I would escape for hours and go sit in the quiet and read...I know.. nerdy right?

                      Fast forward to adulthood and I like my alone time, my quiet time, it is extremely important to revitalize me. I was just in a relationship (didn't last very long) where he was soooo smothering and had to be with me and involved and be sociable with me and everyone else every second of every day....at first it was great because it was sooo opposite of me, but in the end, it was extremely exhausting for me! I NEEDED my alone time. He could not understand why I didn't want to be with him every second. He must be the total polar opposite of me...

                      Anyway, INTJ according to the test...I'm well suited for science and engineering...particularily natural science. I am in a field that is totally wrong for me and I have always felt uncomfortable and actually hated it sometimes. I sell real estate and more particularily when you sell real estate...you are selling yourself, which I have never been fond of tooting my own horn or befriending and being sociable to complete strangers.....so you see my dilemma.

                      It is strange to find out that an INTJ job is best suited in the sciences....I'm always researching and reading about anything in the science realm. Right now I'm researching herbs and herbal based businesses and products. Yes, thinking about a career change. It would seem to fit my personality too. Working with the soil, herbs, creating products....similar to a science based job.

                      I think I've trained myself to be sociable for my job and in general. But, I would prefer to work and research and concentrate all by myself......

                      OK I've rambled enough.....anyone else?????

                      Everything I need is within me!

                      Comment


                        #26
                        Introversion and Alcohol

                        Accountable for Me;956103 wrote: Another ISFJ here.

                        I scored a 61% on the Introvert scale.
                        I got 67%...and wow, the coin analogy is really spot on. I am most likely to pick up a drink after an encounter with an energy leach than at any other time.
                        I am not sure I'm doing this quote thing right. Still working my way around the site.
                        :h Mish :h
                        sigpic
                        Never give up...
                        GET UP!!!

                        AF since 25th November, 2011

                        What might have been is an abstraction
                        Remaining a perpetual possibility
                        Only in a world of speculation.
                        What might have been and what has been
                        Point to one end, which is always present. T.S. Eliot

                        Comment


                          #27
                          Introversion and Alcohol

                          Mishmash;957115 wrote: energy leach
                          That is so funny. My girlfriend and I used to call someone that sucks your energy...."energy vampires". That's too funny!

                          Everything I need is within me!

                          Comment


                            #28
                            Introversion and Alcohol

                            4 INTJs out of 13 MB profiles listed in this thread. Google search indicates INTJs represent 2.9% of the population. I find this interesting since the profile specifically mentions the INTJ personally: "When under a great deal of stress, the INTJ may become obsessed with mindless repetitive, Sensate activities, such as over-drinking."
                            Dean Wormer to Bluto (John Belushi) from the movie Animal House: "Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life son."

                            Comment


                              #29
                              Introversion and Alcohol

                              brightlite;956551 wrote: Hi all INTJ's...that's me to a tee!

                              I usually get agitated and anxious if I have to be around a number of people for a prolonged period of time. Ever since I was young...we lived next to the library and I would escape for hours and go sit in the quiet and read...I know.. nerdy right?

                              Fast forward to adulthood and I like my alone time, my quiet time, it is extremely important to revitalize me. I was just in a relationship (didn't last very long) where he was soooo smothering and had to be with me and involved and be sociable with me and everyone else every second of every day....at first it was great because it was sooo opposite of me, but in the end, it was extremely exhausting for me! I NEEDED my alone time. He could not understand why I didn't want to be with him every second. He must be the total polar opposite of me...

                              Anyway, INTJ according to the test...I'm well suited for science and engineering...particularily natural science. I am in a field that is totally wrong for me and I have always felt uncomfortable and actually hated it sometimes. I sell real estate and more particularily when you sell real estate...you are selling yourself, which I have never been fond of tooting my own horn or befriending and being sociable to complete strangers.....so you see my dilemma.

                              It is strange to find out that an INTJ job is best suited in the sciences....I'm always researching and reading about anything in the science realm. Right now I'm researching herbs and herbal based businesses and products. Yes, thinking about a career change. It would seem to fit my personality too. Working with the soil, herbs, creating products....similar to a science based job.

                              I think I've trained myself to be sociable for my job and in general. But, I would prefer to work and research and concentrate all by myself......

                              OK I've rambled enough.....anyone else?????
                              Ha! Brightlight, I can identify with a lot of your post. I am an INTJ as well. I am an accountant which is not that great a career match for an INTJ either. It's ok, but not brilliant. Like yourself I plan on retraining as a scientist. I remember thinking once, at least I'm not in a sales job, that would be even worse than accountancy. :H

                              The thing about us INTJ's is we are always planning and analysing, I think this is why we tend to make good scientists.

                              Comment


                                #30
                                Introversion and Alcohol

                                RV434;957140 wrote: 4 INTJs out of 13 MB profiles listed in this thread. Google search indicates INTJs represent 2.9% of the population. I find this interesting since the profile specifically mentions the INTJ personally: "When under a great deal of stress, the INTJ may become obsessed with mindless repetitive, Sensate activities, such as over-drinking."

                                I have found that INTJ's are over-represented on internet forums in general
                                , not just forums concerned with alcoholism & addiction issues. Perhaps it is partially because introverts are more likely to spend time on the internet and join chatrooms, but that doesn't explain why INTJ's in particular are over-represented.

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