Methylation imbalance, often caused by MTHFR gene mutations, excessive intake of synthetic folic acid, or nutritional deficiencies, manifests in some very predictable personality traits. Do you fall into one of these?
Upgrade from the Over-methylator and under-methylator paradigm.
As we've discussed before, the over-methylator and under-methylator terms can be misleading, so we are upgrading to a more nuanced concept, methylation archetypes. There are four main personality types here that can help you determine the supplements and even pharmaceutical drugs that could be best for you as you work to balance your methylation. These four personalities are the Achiever, the Activist, the Artist, and the Athlete. Honestly, many people know their archetype just from the name.
Each of these personality types has elements that are common to most people with methylation imbalance or MTHFR gene SNPs. They are all driven in some ways, perfectionist in some ways, passionate, and capable. Each one can have tendencies toward anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and even mood swings.
The Achiever
The Achiever personality type is truly an achiever across the board. They are perfectionistic about everything and like to be at the top of the heap in terms of academics, career, athletics, and aesthetics. Let's face it, they like to win. They are often plagued with seasonal allergies like hay fever or hives, but that never stops them for long. They tend to be strong-willed and possibly even workaholics. They react strongly to seasonal allergens, skin irritants, and perceived success. Leftovers don't do well for them because they're too high histamine so they may cause a headache or stuffy nose. The healthy Achiever is on top of the world, leading the pack in every area. The unhealthy Achiever is overwhelmed by the amount of things they have to do perfectly and can easily work themselves into a nervous breakdown or exhaustion. Historically, we would have put these folks in the "under-methylator" category.
The Activist
The Activist personality type shares the passion of The Achiever but directs it towards a cause that matters to them. Human rights, religious or spiritual causes, community, environment, animal rights, or whatever matters most to this fiery personality. The Activist focuses all of their ambition on their cause, whatever it may be, and will work tirelessly to bring that cause into the light. Activists are not necessarily competitive or even concerned with other areas of their lives, but they will work themselves to the bone for their passion. These people are more likely to have sensitivities to foods, like gluten or dairy and to chemicals but don't typically have a significant problem with seasonal allergies. Activists are highly empathic and tend to march to the beat of their own drum. They are less likely than Achievers to conform to social norms. Often, this group tolerates leftovers well and sometimes even prefers them. The Activist tends to be more likely to get piercings and tattoos than the Achiever or the Athlete. The healthy activist will push for their cause while maintiaining a life balance that allows them outside interests and self-care. The unhealthy Activist will forget to do basic things like eat, sleep, or have a personal life when their cause needs them.
The Athlete
The Athlete tends to have a similar competitive edge to the Achiever, but it is often focused most heavily on physical activity. These people will push their bodies to the limit to be the best in their sport or to test their own personal boundaries. Marathoners, ultra-marathoners, iron men and women, people who want to climb Everest, and competitive athletes - I am talking to you. Athletes are easy to spot because when life troubles hit, or they aren't feeling great mentally or emotionally, the best remedy is to hit the gym. Problems are worked out with their physical bodies, and exercise or activity always makes them feel better. Athletes can also be prone to high histmaine levels and so may have seasonal allergies, histamine flush during work outs, or a difficult time tolerating leftovers. The healthy athlete can push their body but stay mindful of when they are doing damage to themselves. The unhealthy athlete is plagued by repetitive injuries, physical degeneration, and exhaustion because they can't stay out of the gym long enough to let themselves recover.
The Artist
The Artist is a person who has one driving passion that consumes them. They will focus on what matters to them, whether it's writing a book, painting, performing arts, or whatever their life focus is, to the exclusion of everything else. Think of the stereotypical artist who forgets to eat and sleep because they are in a storm of creativity. The Artist can be the most challenging group to spot because it is easy to assume they are all in creative art fields like painting, music, performing arts, or sculpture. While this is often true, we also find the Artist's personality in unlikely professions, from medicine to programming. Also, it is possible to work in an artistic field without falling into The Artist archetype. What makes them The Artist is not the career they choose but the way they approach and focus on their passion. The Artist is more likely than other groups to have piercings and tattoos and other body modifications, and definitely marches to the beat of their own drums, often running in the opposite direction from social norms. The Artist typically does well with leftovers and isn't usually prone to seasonal allergies but often has sensitivities to foods or chemicals. The healthy Artist can focus on their passion while still remembering to eat, sleep, and check on their kids. The unhealthy Artist will lose chunks of time, sometimes days or weeks, while they are lost in their focused work.
Why Your Methylation Personality Type Matters
This matters because it can give us clues about what supplements might work best for you with the least adverse reactions. The system isn't 100% accurate, but it does give you a good starting place.
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