Can you have alexithymia and be an empath?
Although individuals on the autism spectrum experience alexithymia at much higher rates than the general population, autism and alexithymia appear to be distinct, unrelated, and overlapping conditions in which alexithymia seems to influence affective empathy.
How do you know if someone has alexithymia?
Signs and symptoms of alexithymia include:
- difficulties identifying feelings and emotions.
- problems distinguishing between emotions and bodily sensations that relate to those emotions.
- limited ability to communicate feelings to others.
Is it possible to develop alexithymia?
Alexithymia isn’t well understood. There’s a possibility it may be genetic. The condition may also be a result of brain damage to the insula. This part of the brain is known for its role in social skills, empathy, and emotions, with some studies linking insula lesions to apathy and anxiety.
Can you cure alexithymia?
To date, there isn’t a single individual treatment for alexithymia. The exact treatment approach depends on your overall health needs. For example, if you have depression or anxiety, taking certain medications for these conditions could also help mental health symptoms. Therapies may also be helpful for this condition.
Does alexithymia affect everyone?
In fact, studies show that it only affects a small percentage. People who do have alexithymia may describe themselves as having difficulties with expressing emotions that are deemed socially appropriate, such as happiness on a joyous occasion. Others may furthermore have trouble identifying their emotions.
What is an alexithymic personality disorder?
Alexithymics also have trouble recognizing bodily sensations as emotional arousal. Alexithymics typically have great difficulty describing feelings to other people. Their capacity for visual imagination is constricted. There is a scarcity of fantasies or vivid imaginings.
Do alexithymics struggle in close relationships?
It is no surprise that alexithymics struggle in their close relationships, and are uneasy in intimate conversation. People with Alexithymia often tend to avoid intimate relationships and may be fairly described as intimacy avoidant.
How is alexithymia diagnosed and treated?
Another possible test is an MRI performed by a neurologist. This will provide images of the insula in the brain. There’s no one single test for alexithymia, much like neurological disorders and mental illnesses in general. It can take time to receive the right diagnosis. To date, there isn’t a single individual treatment for alexithymia.