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Alexithymia

Jane315STARX

I have just come across this and realise stupidly it was mentioned to me a long time ago by another member who actually has this condition.But it strikes me that my son 'could' have this rather than be narcissistic.As apparently people who are autistic very commonly have this too.It would also explain alot of what the psychiatrist put on his report.I could be clutching at straws but it makes sense.Does anyone out there have this diagnosis and did they identify as having difficulties labelling emotions during teens?.I know that sound ridiculous as that is a difficult time anyway.But I think if you know,you know ( hope im making sense)

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rubin16

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/140236/alexithymia

That was me I think, as I've mentioned it and I have this and basically can't read people emotions or understand them. When I was being diagnosed they did something called (RMET) Reading minds behind eyes test, whereby your shown different pictures of peoples faces and you have to guess how they're feeling. I scored 0 on this.

I also have a problem understanding my own emotions and how i'm feeling, and pretty much act the same all the time, i've been told before a bomb could go off next to me and i'd still act the same.

rubin16

Also just to add when I was at school, I was bullied alot and got called psycho or psychopath all the time. But as you can see on the forum I still understand about feelings I just don't know how to read them, which sometimes can make me seem unsympathetic towards people as I simply don't see otherwise and will just carry on normally and not notice.

Jane315STARX

Thank you for replying.My son for an example never reacts to Christmas presents with joy.He had a pet who died once ( no tears or emotion).Unyet he can laugh at a funny movie but not cry atva very sad film.I have been very ill at home before with pneumonia and scarlet fever and he hasnt once asked how I was or shown any concern but instead asked when dinner was.When I ask him how he feels he has ALWAYS said fine.Even more recently when I've discovered he was suicidal and self harming the Drs report has said he cannot put words or emotions or gesture to his thoughts.So although its not labelling it and my initial thought was narcism could it be this instead?

rubin16

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1086766#Comment_1086766

It could be a possibility that he has this, rather than narcissism. I would definitely have it double checked not just for his sake but for your own piece of mind.

Jane315STARX

He has already had his final diagnosis of autism on.the nhs which took 2 years to wait for.Im not sure how I'd go about speaking to anyone about this but ill certainly look into.Have you found anything that has been helpful for you?

Nightcity

My nan was my world, I never got over her death, I didn't cry once (I don't know why) but it's certainly not through not caring.

I fail to see what's amusing on occasions when a group of people are rolling around laughing and I'll just roll my eyes.

some people are just different but doesn't mean anything in itself.

I really don't think you need to worry Jane, but I think Rubin is right a second opinion is the answer.

Jane315STARX

I'm concerned because his behaviour has already affected him up to this point in his life whereby he hasnt had any friends and has been bullied in.every setting he's been in.Im trying to ascertain the reason/issue behind it and think this could be the reasoning behind it.As it seems to much of a coincidence.I think it of a huge concern that he himself can't understand why he can't cry so having answers might make things easier in some way.I don't know.Sometimes I look for answers that are not there in desperate hope

Jane315STARX

Psychology really is so complex I'm quite annoyed with myself that I jumped straight in before digging deeper.But I had no idea there are so many different types of issues of the mind

rubin16

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1086800#Comment_1086800

Autism is so complex, I'm sorry I'm unsure how you'd get it diagnosed as mine was done with my Autism assessment when I was younger and things have changed since then. Maybe you could try get in touch with the people who do assessments in your area, they may be able to point you in the right direction.

Failing that perhaps trying to find a psychologist/psychiatrist who specialises in autism and its **** conditions.

rubin16

It looked like I swore then but I only said S()ub

Nightcity

It's very very complex absolutely.

it has many interconnecting complications.

I personally have autism,ADHD,Tourettes, Dyslexia, dyspraxia, cognitive impairments (short term memory and obtaining new information) coordination,balance and judgement issues.

however to show how complex it is these were all diagnosed over a whopping 28 years by Different specialists at different times and only in 2016 it was agreed by 2 of those experts and the GP they are ALL linked directly.

So O need significant care daily to do the most pathetic things others take for granted.

I have other autistic friends ranging from those who can live an independent life and those even worse than me.

Emotions are all over the place in one day I can swing from happy to su***al to snappy to giggly.

it's almost impossible to ever fully understand I certainly don't!!

Jane315STARX

@rubin16 interestingly when you see people's thought,feelings and emotion in black and white you respond in an incredible way.Which shows you are extremely empathetic.So to me at least you recognise them perhaps but not when confronted in person? (I hope im understanding this correctly).I would like to know and learn more so that it perhaps could enable me to help my son.I personally think as ive said before we each hold the answers to our issues its just trying to unlock the code ( so to speak).Nobody seems invested enough these days I.e Drs or has the time allocated to each patient.So as my son is not of an age to have an understanding of the complexity I will try my best to get a handle of it.( says she who has issues of her own!)

rubin16

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1087339#Comment_1087339

Its like I can see emotion through words or text, and I do understand emotions to a degree as a logical sense. But a thing I have a problem with is i'll start mimicking people, and i'll copy your actions or sense of words, so essentially if your nice to me or others and use a certain language that I can see and I see how that language/tone is used on others successfully i'll copy it/mimick it.

In person though I generally don't pick up cues whether a person is sad,angry,happy etc and just generally act the same regardless. A person could be really angry or upset but you wouldn't get a reaction from me, I would act the same whether you were happy, sad, angry etc. This does make me seem unsympathetic towards people, however if you told me you were sad/angry I would understand (As know logically what emotion is) and more likely to help or be sympathetic. Same thing goes for myself, I can never tell how i'm feeling and I couldn't tell you at this time if i'm happy/sad. If someone asks how I am my generic answer would be i'm fine/okay.

Theres only one real exception to this and thats when I have a meltdown and its like a rush of thoughts, extreme anxiety and the feeling I have to get out of that situation, its like all my senses are going off at the same time becoming overloaded and i'll do anything to get out of the situation.

Sorry i'm trying describe so you can understand, as its hard to describe but I hope this helps.

Jane315STARX

Yes it most definitely does.You said you enjoy/like gaming.This is something my son also likes.Are these creative games tgat you play or competetive

rubin16

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1087361#Comment_1087361

I don't usually play competitive games. My favourite games are simulator/management games where i'm either building something or building up a business and running it.

some examples these games are:

Farming Simulator, Supermarket Simulator, Project Hospital, Satisfactory, Let's School, Aquarium Store Simulator, House Flipper, Euro Truck Simulator.

I basically like to run my own businesses in games, and build things up

Jane315STARX

I will take a look,sounds very interesting.I can understand why these would be more interesting than something competitive because you can do them on your own and be creative