Questions About Alexithymia

[FayetheAspie]

This condition has been mentioned to me multiple times on this forum. I don't think I am likely to have this but have not been able to verify one way or the other with online tests because they all have had a question or two that I had no way to answer.

Reasons I probably do NOT
1. I can be very enthusiastic about certain things.
2. I have naturally occuring euphoric moods at times.(I didn't think people with alexithymia could feel strong emotions of any kind.)
3. People who know me best tend to say that I am very soft hearted.
4. I don't like for people or animals to be hurt. (Which perhaps backs up point number 3.)

Reasons I might
1. I do confuse certain emotions and certain physical symptoms with one another
2. People at jobsites and such tend to see me as generally detached. (They get confused if they ever witness the sudden switch flip when a special interest topic comes up.)
3. Even though I do care about others, I often don't know how to respond to other people's emotions and end up just standing there awkwardly.
4. I have no concept of how to respond to a potential romantic interest and just avoid by default (even though I almost always have some autistically coded fictional character or another that I have a crush on.)

Does this sound like I do or do not?

 

[Alexej]

This condition has been mentioned to me multiple times on this forum. I don't think I am likely to have this but have not been able to verify one way or the other with online tests because they all have had a question or two that I had no way to answer.

Reasons I probably do NOT
1. I can be very enthusiastic about certain things.

I am not generally enthusiastic about anything

2. I have naturally occuring euphoric moods at times.(I didn't think people with alexithymia could feel strong emotions of any kind.)

Euphoric - I don't know what that means (in me)

3. People who know me best tend to say that I am very soft hearted.

what has soft heartedness to do with alexithymia - that is a new connection to me

4. I don't like for people or animals to be hurt. (Which perhaps backs up point number 3.)

I can be indifferent on this one

Reasons I might
1. I do confuse certain emotions and certain physical symptoms with one another

I generally don't recognise them

2. People at jobsites and such tend to see me as generally detached. (They get confused if they ever witness the sudden switch flip when a special interest topic comes up.)

Detached - is there another way?

3. Even though I do care about others, I often don't know how to respond to other people's emotions and end up just standing there awkwardly.

I resemble that remark

4. I have no concept of how to respond to a potential romantic interest and just avoid by default (even though I almost always have some autistically coded fictional character or another that I have a crush on.)

In my second marriage

 

[FayetheAspie]

@Alexej So you agree that I most likely do NOT have this ?

 

[Xinyta]

Alexithyma is identified on the basis that you are unable to process and describe any emotions you are feeling. They are confusing, though you know you feel something.

Though from what you are describing. You likely do not have it. And your second list sounds more like autistic processing issues with socail, than Alexithyma.

Here is a article on Alexithyma.

I am not generally enthusiastic about anything

That sounds like apathy to me.

 

[Alexej]

@Alexej So you agree that I most likely do NOT have this ?

I don't know - I am diagnosed as autistic and have self diagnosed as alexithymic.

Your post does not say all that much about your feeling life and that is where alexi makes the bigger difference IMHO. I am loathe to give a straight answer, not that I don't want to but don't think I have enough info to come down on one side or the other.

 

[Outdated]

2. I have naturally occuring euphoric moods at times.(I didn't think people with alexithymia could feel strong emotions of any kind.)

You've mentioned this before and it made me wonder. Do these bursts of euphoria also include laughter for no real reason? More prevalent in children than adults, it's a common symptom of PTSD.

As far as I know people with alexithymia don't know if they're happy or sad, pleased or angry, etc and if they try to ponder what it is that they are feeling they really can't tell and that line of thought is confusing and stressful for them.

I think we've seen enough emotional reactions from you in this forum to say that you're probably not alexithymic. You express too much joy in learning new things.

 

[Forest Cat]

Alexithymia, I think that's a female name in Greece. But I'm off-topic.

 

[Outdated]

Alexithymia, I think that's a female name in Greece. But I'm off-topic.

This bloke has 5 daughters. Roula, Toula, Foula, Soula, and little Eguppy.

 

[FayetheAspie]

You've mentioned this before and it made me wonder. Do these bursts of euphoria also include laughter for no real reason? More prevalent in children than adults, it's a common symptom of PTSD.

As far as I know people with alexithymia don't know if they're happy or sad, pleased or angry, etc and if they try to ponder what it is that they are feeling they really can't tell and that line of thought is confusing and stressful for them.

I think we've seen enough emotional reactions from you in this forum to say that you're probably not alexithymic. You express too much joy in learning new things.

Yes. Random laughter is included. I would have reasons to have PTSD but how/why would PTSD make a person euphoric?