Do you want to know everything about the unhealthy ISTJ? You’re in the right place.
The ISTJ is the custodian of culture, traditions, and norms. This personality type is known for keeping strictly to rules and ensuring others do the same.
Once a higher authority sets a regulation, they keep it to the latter. If they do, they make sure everyone else keeps to it. If you have a reliable ISTJ on your team, be assured that you have a good team player and loyal worker.
But what does the unhealthy ISTJ look like? Let’s find out.
Who is the Unhealthy ISTJ?
The unhealthy ISTJ is one who shows his unhealthy nature through extremism, either by exhibiting extreme traits or by acting in a way that isn’t true to his personality at all. In most cases, the ISTJ is either anxious or stressed, and that takes a toll on his personality.
Sometimes, their unhealthy attitudes can create results for them, like obsessively pursuing their goals and dreams. However, it doesn’t necessarily serve them in any other productive way.
The Unhealthy ISTJ: What Signs Should You Look Out For?
Here are top signs to look out for when spotting an unhealthy ISTJ
Highly Sensitive
One of the easiest ways to spot an unhealthy ISTJ is to spot high sensitivity. The unhealthy ISTJ is easily annoyed and sensitive to things, especially when people don’t respond favorably to their demands and requests.
They also detest when people react negatively to how they behave, and see it as nagging or pestering. When someone points out their flaws, they see it as a stab to their pride or ego and don’t take it well. They resort to violently lashing out at people.
Overachievers
The unhealthy ISTJ dwells so much on their work. While they are naturally ambitious, the unhealthy ISTJ becomes obsessed with what they do, either fueled by competition, trying to prove someone else wrong, or getting to the top of their field.
Their obsession becomes so much that they don’t mind hurting people in the process of achieving their goals or missing out on important events just to meet targets. The healthy ISTJ knows when to draw the line between commitment and relaxation.
They are committed to what they do, but they know when to step back and allow the spotlight to shine on the right person. The unhealthy person doesn’t do any of such things. They will be with you every step of the way, even down to receiving the congratulations and commendations.
Read: INTJ vs. ENTJ- What are the key differences?
Negative
The unhealthy ISTJ is unbelievably negative and pessimistic. Nothing is ever better on this side and the other side. Everywhere is grim and dark.
If you come to them with a problem, they will tell you how you would have avoided the problem from the beginning and then propose a solution. In some cases, if you come to them with a genius idea, they will give you a thousand reasons why it won’t work even when they clearly see that it’s a brilliant idea.
Their negativity often stems from their negative experiences and childhood trauma.
Inflexible
Remember when we talked about being too extreme?
The unhealthy ISTJ is super inflexible. When certain rules are in place, they can reach the highest heavens and back to ensure that those rules are enforced. When in positions of higher authority, the unhealthy ISTJ can go any length to punish or attack people who don’t walk by the rules.
Going Against Rules
Another sign of an unhealthy ISTJ is that they love going against rules. When you see someone who is known for always adhering to the rules now openly flaunting them, you know there is a problem.
The unhealthy ISTJ with toxic habits or desires, will go against his character to disobey every constituted authority as an act of rebellion.
Read: INFP and INTJ Relationship- Why This Pair is Exceptional
Highly Judgmental
The unhealthy ISTJ is too concerned with following societal rules and regulations, so they easily judge people who don’t follow the status quo. When someone falls off track or doesn’t act like everyone else, they quickly predict failure for them.
A typical example is a fanatic christian that judges others for not looking or behaving the way they do.
Easily Depressed
Despite their obsession with work and highly judgmental attitude, the unhealthy ISTJ is easily depressed and confused.
One major reason for this is that they suppress emotions so much and channel all their energy into their work and maintaining their commitments. When this happens for a long time, they brood and become depressed. Another reason for this is that they detest change, so constant changes around their lives can overwhelm them.
Emotionally Shut Out
The typical ISTJ leans more towards his logical side than his emotional side. However, he recognizes that his emotional side is just as powerful as his rational side.
Some ISTJs don’t express emotions so much because they believe it makes them appear vulnerable, weak, or incapable of logical reasoning, but they don’t go out of their way to suppress them either.
Unhealthy ISTJs take everything to the extreme. They never open up to people or tell them how they feel, even when it’s a depressing or chaotic situation. In most cases, they would either become extremely silent or violent.
Impulsive Nagging
The healthy ISTJ often lives in his head. He thinks so much about solving problems and engaging with his rational side that he has less time to bicker and nag at people.
A good sign of an unhealthy ISTJ is that they complain and nag about everything instead of actively finding solutions. They would rather be pessimistic and throw negativity at every person or circumstance than searching for the good.
Lack of Sensitivity
As mentioned, ISTJs think a lot. While they recognize that their emotions are powerful and useful tools, they don’t prioritize them as much as they do logic. The unhealthy ISTJ takes this a bit further.
They become harsh and often disregard people’s emotions. If someone comes to them with a problem, concern, or complaint, they would most likely dismiss than address it. Over time, they push people far away from them.
How Does the Unhealthy ISTJ Know He is One?
As an ISTJ, how do you know you’re unhealthy?
Lack of Self-care
A good sign that you’re becoming unhealthy is your lack of self-care. When your body gives you warning signals, you deliberately ignore them.
For instance, you’ve worked all through the day and are exhausted. Instead of resting, you go to a club because you don’t want to be by yourself. Another instance is that you might be hungry but will deliberately starve yourself for ‘unreasonable’ reasons.
Not Acknowledging Emotions
The unhealthy ISTJ would do everything within their power to not acknowledge their feelings or emotions. They would rather become depressed and defensive, rather than sit down and acknowledge why things are the way they are.
Overcompensation
The healthy one knows when to rest and the right amount of work to take on. But the unhealthy ISTJ has difficulty saying no. They would work so much and ignore all bodily warning signs until they break down, physically and emotionally. The unhealthy ISTJ would go great lengths to please everyone but themselves.
In most cases, they do so to overcompensate for feelings of inadequacy or low self-esteem.
Differences Between the Healthy and Unhealthy ISTJ
Here are some key differences to help you distinguish both personalities:
| Healthy ISTJ | Unhealthy ISTJ |
| Very logical but doesn’t invalidate emotions | Dismisses emotions entirely |
| Strong sense of morality | Openly flaunts rules |
| Respectful of other people’s emotions and opinions | Strongly imposes their values on others |
| Willing to entertain other viewpoints. Knows that change is constant | Refuses to see alternative options |
| Neutral | Overly pessimistic |
| Knows when to rest. Very good at delegating or outsourcing weaknesses | Lacks self-care. Always overworking. |
How Can the Unhealthy ISTJ Get Help?
Here’s how the unhealthy ISTJ can become healthy again:
Become Self-Aware
The first step toward any recovery is self-awareness. The unhealthy ISTJ must recognize his toxic habits, the roots of these habits, and what triggers them. Only then would he seek the required help.
Increase Your Emotional Intelligence
As part of self-awareness, the unhealthy ISTJ must improve his emotional intelligence. Simply put, emotional intelligence involves understanding and handling your own emotions, and accurately observing other people’s emotions, to the point of almost influencing them (positively).
When you have sufficient emotional intelligence, you will learn how to sometimes prioritize people’s emotions and feelings, even when rational thinking says otherwise.
See a Therapist
A therapist is a professional designed to help you see things within yourself that you don’t have the tools to recognize. If you notice any toxic or unusual traits within yourself, seeing someone can help you to overcome those habits and forge a better path for yourself.
Hold Yourself to a High Standard
On your journey to self-discovery and improvement, ensure you hold yourself to a higher standard than you do everyone else. Most people love to remove the specks in other people’s eyes without seeing the logs in theirs.
Be accountable for your actions, always live in integrity, eliminate yourself from any negative or toxic situation that can dampen your spirit, and do to others what you want to be done to you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some questions commonly asked:
What Makes the Typical ISTJ uncomfortable?
They hate disorder, flaunting of rules, indirect orders, or vague information. When they’re involved with something, they want everything to go by the book.
Another thing that makes them uncomfortable is dismissing their logical approaches to situations and focusing entirely on emotional reactions.
What is the Least Significant Function of the ISTJ?
Their least, less pronounced function is Extraverted Intuition. This perceiving function is responsible for looking for patterns and relationships amid several concepts, facts or ideas. That’s why you can see many viewpoints of a concept or idea.
What Does the Typical ISTJ Do When Angry?
In most cases, the healthy ISTJ would remain calm and collected. The unhealthy ISTJ would lash out violently.
Final Words
The unhealthy ISTJ goes contrary to almost every significant ISTJ trait. They are rebellious, negative, pessimistic, or insensitive. However, all hope is not lost. They can revert to their healthy states by being self-aware, becoming more emotionally intelligent, and seeing a licensed professional.
