Alexithymia — Scope | Disability forum
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Alexithymia

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Bettahm
Bettahm Community member Posts: 1,443 Disability Gamechanger
Better known as emotional blindness it's a failure to recognize or be able to describe your own or from my point of view be aware of them I think except anger and verbal aggression. Also being able to see or know them in others, again, for me.
It's a tough one, even just to define!

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  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Community member, Scope Member Posts: 1,000 Pioneering
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    Do you mean specifically around other people?

    People stress me out so much! Being alone definitely feels safer as I can never entirely predict how I will behave in a busy environment - tension and rage I know well :| as an adult, that's quite scary


  • Bettahm
    Bettahm Community member Posts: 1,443 Disability Gamechanger
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    WhatThe said:

    Do you mean specifically around other people?

    People stress me out so much! Being alone definitely feels safer as I can never entirely predict how I will behave in a busy environment - tension and rage I know well :| as an adult, that's quite scary


    Well I dont recognize my own emotions to a point where I say I dont have some, in fact I'm sure I dont have some. Or many. Also I cant read or see them in others most of the time I think.
    It is hard to define  .
    I have been told in the past to be assertive not aggressive but that doesn't work. And I do get angry quickly.
  • Jimm_Scope
    Jimm_Scope Posts: 2,830 Scope online community team
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    Is this entirely about blind to your own emotions or also to others? As I think I could be blind to my own sometimes, but I am quite empathetic and notice other peoples emotions/their mood quite readily.
    They/Them, however they are no wrong pronouns with me so whatever you feel most comfortable with
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  • Bettahm
    Bettahm Community member Posts: 1,443 Disability Gamechanger
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    Is this entirely about blind to your own emotions or also to others? As I think I could be blind to my own sometimes, but I am quite empathetic and notice other peoples emotions/their mood quite readily.
    I am not sure. This is how it is for me but alexithymia is a weird thing. Cant remember if steps 2 change or the autism diagnostic team said I had it. Its linked to autism but you can have it and not be autistic. Maybe its linked to adhd also. 
  • Jimm_Scope
    Jimm_Scope Posts: 2,830 Scope online community team
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    Sometimes I can be so focused I just don't feel anything other than just... the thing I'm focusing on.

    I can often struggle to put how I am feeling into words, but I'm pretty alright when discussing other people or considering how other people feel?

    My therapist said rejection sensitivity dysphoria is quite common with ADHD (In me it came out as not asking people for help, constant fear of being a burden on people, I'm doing much better with it now!). 

    I know I get time blindness with ADHD, wouldn't surprise me if the lack of ability to control focus can also affect how I interpret my own emotions sometimes.
    They/Them, however they are no wrong pronouns with me so whatever you feel most comfortable with
    Online Community Specialist

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    Opinions are my own, such as mashed potato being bad.
  • Bettahm
    Bettahm Community member Posts: 1,443 Disability Gamechanger
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    Sometimes I can be so focused I just don't feel anything other than just... the thing I'm focusing on.

    I can often struggle to put how I am feeling into words, but I'm pretty alright when discussing other people or considering how other people feel?

    My therapist said rejection sensitivity dysphoria is quite common with ADHD (In me it came out as not asking people for help, constant fear of being a burden on people, I'm doing much better with it now!). 

    I know I get time blindness with ADHD, wouldn't surprise me if the lack of ability to control focus can also affect how I interpret my own emotions sometimes.
    It's a complicated thing. 
    Like I said earlier I feel there are just some emotions 'not there' with me. ??? And certainly I dont read other peoples but that can be the autism i think. 
    I suspect it's a condition they still dont know much about.
  • Bettahm
    Bettahm Community member Posts: 1,443 Disability Gamechanger
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    Sometimes I can be so focused I just don't feel anything other than just... the thing I'm focusing on.

    I can often struggle to put how I am feeling into words, but I'm pretty alright when discussing other people or considering how other people feel?

    My therapist said rejection sensitivity dysphoria is quite common with ADHD (In me it came out as not asking people for help, constant fear of being a burden on people, I'm doing much better with it now!). 

    I know I get time blindness with ADHD, wouldn't surprise me if the lack of ability to control focus can also affect how I interpret my own emotions sometimes.
    You could well have alexithymia. Maybe ask your therapist...
  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Community member, Scope Member Posts: 1,000 Pioneering
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    Are you a guy by any chance?
  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Community member, Scope Member Posts: 1,000 Pioneering
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    Sometimes I can be so focused I just don't feel anything other than just... the thing I'm focusing on.

    Hi Jimm

    Dysexecutive function/syndrome is where it's difficult to start or stop doing something though hyper-focusing seems to be common and relatively easy for many on the spectrum 


  • Jimm_Scope
    Jimm_Scope Posts: 2,830 Scope online community team
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    WhatThe said:
      
    Sometimes I can be so focused I just don't feel anything other than just... the thing I'm focusing on.

    Hi Jimm

    Dysexecutive function/syndrome is where it's difficult to start or stop doing something though hyper-focusing seems to be common and relatively easy for many on the spectrum 


    I have ADHD so my executive function is very dysfunctional. As to your other question, though I prefer gender-neutral terms (just to clarify, I am not bothered by gendered terms, it's just a preference) I am a male from birth yes. 

    My therapist is already well aware of my ADHD. The reason she's my therapist is that one of her specialties is ADHD!
    They/Them, however they are no wrong pronouns with me so whatever you feel most comfortable with
    Online Community Specialist

    Concerned about another member's safety or wellbeing? Flag your concerns with us. 
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    Opinions are my own, such as mashed potato being bad.
  • Bettahm
    Bettahm Community member Posts: 1,443 Disability Gamechanger
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    WhatThe said:
      
    Sometimes I can be so focused I just don't feel anything other than just... the thing I'm focusing on.

    Hi Jimm

    Dysexecutive function/syndrome is where it's difficult to start or stop doing something though hyper-focusing seems to be common and relatively easy for many on the spectrum 


    I have ADHD so my executive function is very dysfunctional. As to your other question, though I prefer gender-neutral terms (just to clarify, I am not bothered by gendered terms, it's just a preference) I am a male from birth yes. 

    My therapist is already well aware of my ADHD. The reason she's my therapist is that one of her specialties is ADHD!
    My executive functioning (only found out what it means and what it is when diagnosed with autism) but it is bad. 
    It was me who said about your therapist maybe you could ask her about alexithymia.

Brightness

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