Alexithymia is a subclinical phenomenon involving a lack of emotional awareness or , more specifically, difficulty in identifying and describing feelings and in distinguishing feelings from the bodily sensations of emotional arousal (Nemiah et al., 1976).
Is alexithymia a form of autism?
Although alexithymia is not a core feature of autism , recent studies have found varying degrees of this trait in 50 to 85% of individuals with ASD.
What are the symptoms of alexithymia?
- anger.
- confusion.
- difficulty “reading faces”
- discomfort.
- emptiness.
- increased heart rate.
- lack of affection.
- panic.
Is alexithymia a personality trait?
Alexithymia is a dimensional personality trait characterized by difficulties in identifying and describing subjective feelings, a limited imaginal capacity, and an externally oriented cognitive style.
Are there levels of alexithymia?
There are three subscales as follows: Difficulty in Identifying Feelings (TAS-1), Difficulty in Describing Feelings (TAS-2), and Externally Oriented Thinking (TAS-3). It is considered that the higher the total score, the more the alexithymic level.
Is alexithymia a disorder?
Researchers describe alexithymia as a construct relating to a difficulty experiencing, identifying, and expressing emotions. It is not a clinical diagnosis, and mental health professionals do not consider it a disorder , although it may occur alongside some mental health conditions.
Does alexithymia get worse with age?
For instance, one large-scale study found that the prevalence of alexithymia increased with age , with the highest TAS scores obtained by participants aged 85 years and older (Mattila et al., 2006).
What is similar to alexithymia?
Like Alexithymia, Asperger's disorder is also characterised by core disturbances in speech and language and social relationships.
Can you have alexithymia without autism?
Despite their frequent co-occurrence, alexithymia and autism are independent constructs. Alexithymia is neither necessary nor sufficient for an autism diagnosis , nor is it universal among autistic individuals. Conversely, many individuals show severe degrees of alexithymia without demonstrating autistic symptoms.
What is being emotionless called?
Schizoid personality disorder is one of many personality disorders. It can cause individuals to seem distant and emotionless, rarely engaging in social situations or pursuing relationships with other people.
Can someone with alexithymia cry?
Clinical experience suggests it is the structural features of dreams more than the ability to recall them that best characterizes alexithymia. Some alexithymic individuals may appear to contradict the above-mentioned characteristics because they can experience chronic dysphoria or manifest outbursts of crying or rage.
What is narcissistic alexithymia?
Concept description. In his New York Times column of 11 October 2016, David Brooks wrote that “Trump continues to display the symptoms of narcissistic alexithymia, the inability to understand or describe the emotions in the self . Unable to know themselves, sufferers are unable to understand, relate or attach to others. ...
Does anxiety cause alexithymia?
Alexithymia may result from the difficulty associated with expressing emotions caused by anxiety disorders . Undergoing treatment for anxiety disorders may contribute to reduced exacerbation of urticaria.
Why do I not cry?
There are many reasons why you might struggle to shed a tear or two. It might be because of a physical ailment but, more often than not, an inability to cry says a lot about our emotional state, our beliefs and prejudices about crying, or our past experiences and trauma.
Can alexithymia be mild?
Alexithymia is a trait that makes it hard to find words for thoughts and feelings. It is experienced by both children and adults and can come in mild, moderate and severe forms .
What is a schizoid psychopath?
Schizoid personality disorder is an uncommon condition in which people avoid social activities and consistently shy away from interaction with others . They also have a limited range of emotional expression.
