ESFP Depression (A complete guide)

In this brief guide, we will look at ESFP personality and depression, and other related concepts.

ESFP and Depression: Introduction

An ESFP is extremely emotional and yet very outgoing, and as much as they like to go on adventures and seek out new things, they can be immensely introverted and they are often rules by feelings, which is why depression can be different in the ESFP.

This is not to say that the ESFP has different symptoms of depression compared to everyone else, or that depression affects the ESFP any more than it does others, it just means that having an acute knowledge of the personality traits in the ESFP type can be revealing about the type of depression they are experiencing, and more importantly, the best possible way to help them. 

An ESFP may often withdraw and be sullen when depressed, and they may not respond to efforts their loved ones may make to help them with the depression.

The ESFP is very introspective due to their introverted feeling function, and they are acutely aware of all their values, beliefs, and feelings, whether they are positive or negative, and when such an ESFP gets depressed, it can take a lot of help to get them out of depression.

Lastly, an ESFP likes to seek out new things as a means to provide them with information about the world and help them navigate through it, but depression in the ESFP may make them averse to this tendency, given how it affects the ability to do things, and when they lose this process, a key part of their cognition is halted.

Features of the ESFP personality

The ESFP personality is a type of personality in the personality test MBTI , which is based on the psychological type theory by Calt Jung, and it stands for Extraverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving or Prospecting.

The ESFP type is also known as the Entertainer, due to their typical outgoing tendencies and their innate desire to seek new experiences, people, and ideas.

Often, and typically, it may seem like the ESFP personality types are just generally very good-looking and aesthetically pleasing regardless of what walks of life they come from, but more than it is a physical attribute (which is not possible because personality type does not change or affect physical features in any way) it is because their sensing function makes them very attuned to figuring out what is beautiful and what is not, and they are able to really take care of their appearance well as a result of this trait.

The ESFP can also be impulsive and spontaneous, and it may be very easy for them to get caught up in the excitement of the moment because they live in the present, and they are very good at getting others to feel the same way as well, because of how agreeable they are.

The ESFP’s excitement is tangible and infectious and tends to spread quickly to those they have in their social circle, and being around them can feel like an amazing thrill ride that one may not want to get off of.

The ESFP is also very generous, whether that is with time and energy or with material goods, and they rarely refuse anyone that wants to have a good time or have fun.

They will also make sure they go merrily going along for a ride regardless of where it is taking them, and sometimes this tendency may get them into some reckless situations, as they may go forward with things if they seem interesting even when it makes for a problematic situation.

Generally, their agreeableness and ability to just get into things without worrying makes them quite popular and they are very happy because of it because they love people, but it can also get them into trouble when they are just being impulsive all the time and ignoring their responsibilities, which may make work pile up and pressure them when it does.

The extroverted sensing function Se is the dominant one in the ESFPs, and therefore they exhibit irresistible style and grace in the way they carry themselves, and the way they dress and behave, which only adds to their appeal and makes them a talking point in their social circle.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

Depression is a mental health condition that affects approximately 234 million people in the world and many of them lose their lives by taking it, which is a travesty considering this is something that can be helped in so many ways, with antidepressants and therapy and sometimes just by being there for someone when they are going through a tough time.

If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.

The symptoms of depression according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM V) are:

“The individual must be experiencing five or more symptoms during the same 2-week period and at least one of the symptoms should be either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.

• Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
• Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.
• Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
• A slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movement (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
• Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day.
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day.
• Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent ideas about taking their life without a specific plan, or an attempt at taking their life or a specific plan for taking their life.

To receive a diagnosis of depression, these symptoms must cause the individual clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The symptoms must also not be a result of substance abuse or another medical condition.

The DSM highlights other criteria based on what disorder or type of depression is present in the person because that affects how the disorder is treated and how it progresses, and about Major Depressive disorder, the one commonly known as Clinical Depression, it says:

“Major depressive disorder is associated with high mortality, much of which is accounted for by taking ones life. As a result, if you think someone you care about may be suffering from depression it is important to know the warning signs for taking ones life and to take statements about such extremely seriously.

An active statement by someone with ideas about taking ones life might be something like, “I’m going to finish off myself,” but other passive statements such as, “I wish I could just go to sleep and never wake up,” are equally worrying. If someone with depression exhibits these verbal markers, encourage them to consult a mental health professional immediately.”

It also says, in addition to this, that “Depressed individuals also present with irritability, brooding, and obsessive rumination, and report anxiety, phobias, excessive worry over physical health, and complain of pain.”

How does ESFP deal with Depression?

Everyone deals with depression in their own way, and for the most part, this is where their individual personality traits come in, as they dictate the person’s reaction, which is not much different in the ESFP in depression either.

ESFPs in depression might often attempt to try new and exciting things to pull themselves out of it, at least in the beginning stages, because of their dominant function of Extroverted sensing.

When this does not work, they might feel like they are sinking lower, which may just paralyze them further so they can’t try this tactic anymore. 

An ESFP individual suffering fro depression may also try to feel better by spending money, and they may feel that so-called “retail therapy”, may make them feel better and that purchasing things might restore their emotional state to normal.

The reason for this tendency of the ESFP is that they love beauty and aesthetics, and their natural instinct to get out of a bad feeling is to make things clean and pretty, but sometimes in doing so, they may start to get somewhat obsessive and controlling and try to control everything they see around them.

They might feel like they need to restore order somehow, and they might feel like changing their environment may make them feel better, perhaps because their extroverted sensing function is telling their introverted feeling function that is the only way things get better at all.

Of course, even if they feel momentary relief from restoring order, they may fall right back to the negative emotional state because it is a psychiatric condition, and depression, sadly, does not go away by making things pretty.

This resurgence of bad feelings may make the ESFP feel worse, and it may start to feel like everything is pointless, and even if they try they won’t feel better, which is why by the time other people start trying to help them, they may become resistant to helo.

When the ESFP falls lower into depression they may start to isolate themselves as well, not rushing into things as much and not seeking people out anymore, and if the people around them don’t realize this quickly they might slip further down into depression.

The ESFP may also go the opposite way and suffer from a type of depression called Masked depression.

This is a term that has become more and more prevalent as researchers have realized that there are more symptoms to depression than just not wanting to do things and feeling sad.

Some people, like ESFP, experience depressive symptoms like risky behavior involving things like gambling, promiscuity, and drugs or other substances, which is something the ESFP is at risk for due to their extroverted sensing function.

How to Help an ESFP in Depression

Here are some things you can do to help an ESFP in depression:

• Talk to them if they start to isolate themselves at all, don’t leave them alone.
• If you notice any risky behaviors like the ones mentioned above or any other form of impulsivity, try to get through to them and find out if they are just acting out or depressed.
• Try to help them with daily chores or minor things around the house.
• Listen to them if they ever start to talk, and don’t be put off if they ever act clingy or needy in any way.
• Try to help them clean or otherwise make their living space beautiful.
• Try to coax them into coming out with you to someplace they have not been before.
• Get them a relaxing coloring book if their depression may be a result of stress.
• Try to pick up a new hobby or craft with them.
• Engage them in some kind of physical activity.

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we looked at ESFP personality and depression, and other related concepts. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or comments you may have.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): ESFP Depression

Citations 

https://www.psycom.net/depression-definition-dsm-5-diagnostic-criteria/

How Each Myers-Briggs Type Deals with Depression

psychologyjunkie.com/2019/09/26/heres-what-makes-you-feel-empty-based-on-your-personality-type/

https://personalityconnect.com/tag/esfp/