Why an INFJ Man can be very sensitive to lights?

While being an INFJ doesn’t directly mean someone is sensitive to light, there’s a significant overlap with a well-researched trait called Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS), often referred to as being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP).

Here’s why an INFJ man might be particularly sensitive to lights:

1. Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) Overlap:
   • Depth of Processing: A core characteristic of HSPs (and INFJs) is a tendency to process information more deeply than others. This means that all sensory input, including light, is registered and analyzed at a more profound level in the brain. It’s like my brain has the volume turned up on everything.
   • Overstimulation: Because of this deep processing, my nervous system can easily become overstimulated by intense sensory input. Bright, harsh, or flickering lights contribute to this overload much faster than for someone with a less sensitive nervous system. This can lead to discomfort, irritability, fatigue, or even a feeling of being overwhelmed or “fried.”
   • Sensing Subtleties: HSPs are also highly aware of subtleties in their environment. This means I might notice minute changes in light, specific light frequencies, or even the hum of certain light fixtures that others completely miss. These subtle inputs, when accumulated, contribute to sensory overload.
2. Introverted Intuition (Ni) and Environmental Harmony:
   • My dominant function, Introverted Intuition (Ni), is constantly seeking patterns, connections, and an overall sense of coherence and harmony. When the external environment is jarring, chaotic, or overstimulating (like with harsh lighting), it disrupts my internal sense of calm and makes it difficult for my Ni to operate in its preferred “flow state.”
   • My Ni thrives in calm, understated environments where it can freely connect ideas and gain insights. Bright, intrusive lights can pull me out of this state, making me feel annoyed or unable to focus on my internal processing.
3. Fe (Extraverted Feeling) and Empathy:
   • My auxiliary Extraverted Feeling (Fe) makes me highly attuned to the emotional atmosphere and the comfort of others. However, it also means I’m often very sensitive to my own internal state. If harsh lights are causing me physical discomfort, it can quickly translate into emotional unease. I might also subconsciously absorb the subtle stress or discomfort others might feel from such lights, amplifying my own reaction.
4. Inferior Extraverted Sensing (Se):
   • My inferior function is Extraverted Sensing (Se). This means I am generally less comfortable with and less skilled at consciously processing direct, raw sensory input from the external world in large doses. When faced with overwhelming sensory experiences like very bright lights, my inferior Se can struggle to filter or manage it, leading to a feeling of being overwhelmed and wanting to retreat.

Finally: For me, as an INFJ man, being sensitive to lights isn’t just a preference; it often stems from a deeper neurological tendency towards sensory processing sensitivity. My highly active inner world (Ni), my need for external harmony (Fe), and my less developed relationship with raw sensory input (inferior Se) all contribute to bright or chaotic lighting feeling overwhelming and disruptive to my well-being and cognitive flow. I genuinely prefer softer, warmer, and more subdued lighting to feel comfortable, relaxed, and able to access my deeper thought processes.

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