[Oldlady]

I know that many comedians are 7's, and I know that many comedians have troubled pasts which they try to escape with drugs, alcohol, and other addictions. So, if Comedians = 7's and Comedians = escapists, do 7's = escapists? Is the motive behind 7's to avoid true pain, even if it means creating other serious problems to keep occupied?

I ask because I wonder about my own enneagram type. I thought that I faced my problems head on, and didn't avoid them like the typical 7, but now I see that the problems I have been facing are only decoy problems that I have created for myself in an attempt to avoid my real problems.

I had an eating disorder - an excellent way to avoid thinking about anything but an eating disorder.

I have an adrenaline addiction. Whenever I am feeling depressed I have an urge to google frightening images. I am terrified of the images, because they are disturbing, but subconsciously being scared also makes me feel alive. If I don't do it I am depressed, and I hate being depressed because I can't do anything.



Do you do things to make yourself feel alive and "on"? I don't identify with the typical 7 vision of optimistic happiness because I imagine that the person underneath is shallow and dead, only smiling because they can't do anything else. When I am at my best, I am absolutely high on life. I love it. I joke around and pretend and I get this wonderful feeling of being powerful and invincible, like I can accomplish anything.

[Lilsnowy]

Yes, for me it's romantic imagery or creative writing or eating something terrible for me when I'm really angry. Sometimes relationships with a lot of good chemistry distract me from my pain. I feel bad, so I search out the ones where I feel the most good. I didn't really understand this until recently, my desire to run away from pain, and an avoidance of pain by my optimism. Optimism wouldn't seem like an addiction but it is a habit of mine and sometimes, by pointing out the 'good' in every bad situation, others don't feel my compassion and that bothers me. Plus, it keeps me from really reading a situation as it is and making a decision that is good for me. Like to get away! I do tend to skip right over the worst of it by going to what I hope can change. Then later, I feel the real weight of the losses and get uncharacteristically teary and irritable.

[unbeingdead]

yes, i do tend to be an "escapist" of sorts. i will read for hours and hours to forget about whatever problem i seem to have. or i'll go run until i feel like i'm about to die and can't think about anything other than breathing. i even remember doing this as a child, whenever i would have nightmares, i would force myself to stay awake by doing other things. (i admit, i still do this.)

i am an adrenaline junkie, and love the feeling of "being alive" that you get when your body is very close to dying. i will go into haunted houses, bungee jump, etc, just to feel like i'm alive. was i not gifted with a bit of common sense, i'd probably be into very hard drugs, just for the high. i can't stand being bored, and i'd almost rather be depressed or have something bad happen to me than to feel like nothing.

[Lilsnowy]

Ubeingdead, what you said about running reminded about biking. I was riding all the time to release stress and distract from pain and now that it's cold where I live I can't do it and it's killing me! I feel 'set upon' by troubles sometimes. I don't like the fear factor for adrenaline, but other things or people that excite me do the same thing. I don't feel comfrotable with drugs, but have natural hghs all the time as I seek new experiences for any number of reasons. Thanks for your post!

[unbeingdead]

Ubeingdead, what you said about running reminded about biking. I was riding all the time to release stress and distract from pain and now that it's cold where I live I can't do it and it's killing me! I feel 'set upon' by troubles sometimes. I don't like the fear factor for adrenaline, but other things or people that excite me do the same thing. I don't feel comfrotable with drugs, but have natural hghs all the time as I seek new experiences for any number of reasons. Thanks for your post!

i completely understand! it's gotten colder where i live, but not too cold yet. but it will soon, and i'm dreading the day it does! i hope you can find another way to distract you, i know that it's really hard getting through without the distractions!

[Cthulhu]

i like marijuana as am=n outlet for escape, it makes me forget most short term things, and it makes me feel good without the down time like all other substances taht are able to be abused. its a good way to escape your issues.

[MissMaja]

; whenever i would have nightmares, i would force myself to stay awake by doing other things. (i admit, i still do this.)

me too.. just yesterday i had nightmare so at 3 am i start to read a book cause i didn't know what to do and i had classes at 8 in the morning but i couldn't get any sleep.. sometimes it makes me crazy

if it's not really serious problem i just avoid it by doing something else.. usually i spend more time with my friends or reading, it's always working

[KateAusten]

I know I have. I had eating disorders starting from age 9. A couple of phases where I had a genuine alcohol problem, though it always seems to disappear on its own when I move on and my situation changes, without me making a big effort to quit. I generally just have an addictive personality, moderation is difficult for me, I just have to try to make my chosen overindulgences healthy and productive things.

[WildWinds]

Well this is an interesting connection to make, addictions and personality type. I say this because we often hear that some people are genetically predisposed to becoming addicted to something. I wonder how prevalent this is in other types.

I can't say that I've ever struggled with addictions, not that I've ever exposed myself to anything seriously addicting. I don't have problems with over eating, and I've never had an issue with caffeine.

Only thing I can really say about myself here is that like unbeingdead, I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie. There's not a lot that I won't do, I love thrills. If I get bored or frustrated, I become tempted to do something crazy as a distraction.

[Meg2323]

yep. I have run the gambit
mainly marijuana and psychotropics (aka mushrooms).
but i did dabble in cocaine, amphetamines and ex for a bit.
Not to mention experimenting with a slew of other things

I also lost myself to certain weird obsessions, becoming very absorbed in the problems surrounding an unhealthy relationship, and engaging in a multitude of unhealthy compulsions (aka exercising, nail biting, masturbation). I was doing this during a time where i had no support and my confidence was low. Sometimes i wonder if I would return to these things will return if i become overwhelmed with anxiety once more, but thats what meditation is for..right?

However, it was very easy for me to stop. I honestly got bored of the lifestyle and the side effects, not to mention the horrible things it was doing to my body so i quit doing them. I wouldnt say it was willpower (except for quitting smoking, that was hard!) but just understanding the limitations of surrounding yourself with bad influences. They bored me.

Still enjoy my blunts though :)