Alexithymia

Bettahm
Bettahm Online Community Member Posts: 1,441 Championing
in Rare, invisible, and undiagnosed conditions
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!

Comments

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 4,784 Championing

    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 Online Community Member Posts: 1,441 Championing
    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_Alumni
    Jimm_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,713 Championing
    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.
  • Bettahm
    Bettahm Online Community Member Posts: 1,441 Championing
    Jimm_Scope said:
    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_Alumni
    Jimm_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,713 Championing
    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.
  • Bettahm
    Bettahm Online Community Member Posts: 1,441 Championing
    Jimm_Scope said:
    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 Online Community Member Posts: 1,441 Championing
    Jimm_Scope said:
    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 Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 4,784 Championing

    Are you a guy by any chance?
  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 4,784 Championing
      
    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_Alumni
    Jimm_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,713 Championing
    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!
  • Bettahm
    Bettahm Online Community Member Posts: 1,441 Championing
    Jimm_Scope said:
    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.

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