Alexithymia online questionnaire

[beware_the_sluagh]

As well, the idea that the brain controls the body - where did that come from? The body does what it wants - the brain is INSIDE the body, a helpless prisoner. Kind of like if you chained the captain of a ship up in the brig and just consulted him from time to time on where you were going and how.

In your scenario Sophist, I can just see the brain scrabbling to get a grip on the situation, scattering papers and compasses and sliderules as the data from body starts coming in before he has time to prepare.

[Sophist]

As well, the idea that the brain controls the body - where did that come from? The body does what it wants - the brain is INSIDE the body, a helpless prisoner. Kind of like if you chained the captain of a ship up in the brig and just consulted him from time to time on where you were going and how.

In your scenario Sophist, I can just see the brain scrabbling to get a grip on the situation, scattering papers and compasses and sliderules as the data from body starts coming in before he has time to prepare.

LOL

Captain Brain: "What the bloody hell are you doing with my ship? Where are we going?"

First Mate Body: "I thought we should steer right into the eye of the storm, sir."

Capt. Brain: "What? Untie me! Where's my compass?! Who's got the map?!?"

First Mate Body: "Oh the map? We threw that away, sir. I drew us a new one, see? None of those big ugly X's getting in the way anymore."

[beware_the_sluagh]

Captain Brain: "What the bloody hell are you doing with my ship? Where are we going?"

First Mate Body: "I thought we should steer right into the eye of the storm, sir."

Capt. Brain: "What? Untie me! Where's my compass?! Who's got the map?!?"

First Mate Body: "Oh the map? We threw that away, sir. I drew us a new one, see? None of those big ugly X's getting in the way anymore."

[ruth]

Captain Brain: "What the bloody hell are you doing with my ship? Where are we going?"

First Mate Body: "I thought we should steer right into the eye of the storm, sir."

Capt. Brain: "What? Untie me! Where's my compass?! Who's got the map?!?"

First Mate Body: "Oh the map? We threw that away, sir. I drew us a new one, see? None of those big ugly X's getting in the way anymore."

[Sophist]

First Mate Body: "And as for the compass, sir, I turned it into a locket and made it into a nice pretty bauble for my girlfriend. I gave it to her at the last port."

[MethylatedLifeforce]

I don't know if I am alexithymic, but I heavily suspect that I am.

Since I was a young teen, I actually made up words for emotions in my head, because the emotions I had didn't seem to fit the ones the English language had words for. I am sure in reality I have the same set of emotions as every other human, of course, but I couldn't say what they were.

I am way better at identifying them now, but I still have a hard time putting a label on what I feel.

[Sophist]

The subtle ones are the worst.

[Charlie]

I don't know if I am alexithymic, but I heavily suspect that I am.

Since I was a young teen, I actually made up words for emotions in my head, because the emotions I had didn't seem to fit the ones the English language had words for. I am sure in reality I have the same set of emotions as every other human, of course, but I couldn't say what they were.

I am way better at identifying them now, but I still have a hard time putting a label on what I feel.

SNAP!!! Apart from I have never really even tried to give them new names. If someone asks me what I am feeling then the chances are they will not get a response.

[Civet]

Edit: I got 136 on the quiz. "High" apparently. I also had to say "undecided" to a good deal of them, like Benji.

I am better at identifying emotions than I used to be, but still not exactly great at it. Certain things I've become familiar with so I know what they are now, like anxiety for example, but it tends to take a pretty high level of any emotion for me to really even notice or acknowledge that I'm having it (which I think is why I have trouble regulating bad emotions, I often don't notice them until they are hard to control). A lot of the time it takes physical symptoms for me to identify emotions, like "I'm trembling so I am probably getting nervous or stressed."

It's also hard for me to think of words for emotions, I've noticed this on those "identify emotions in the face/eyes" test too, that I can't think of a word for the emotion and I am kind of lost on it, but if I am offered choices I can usually do well picking one. One thing I think has helped me (besides having to go to therapy and talk about my feelings all the time haha) is that I post a lot on livejournal and try to make sure to select an emotion every time I post, as it has that option. I've been doing that for several years now and it's become a lot easier than it used to be, though my range is still somewhat limited.

Funny, this is one of the main reasons for my avatar and deep identification with the character of Rei Ayanami. I suppose she must be Alexithymic, too, haha. I read an article about her written by her voice actress, once, that called her "The girl who does not know emotions" and explained how though many people think she is without emotion that is not true, she just doesn't understand them or know how to express them.

[Charlie]

Just decided to do the test again, and after a little more consideration I submitted. At least it was not as high as the 163 the first time (I think that was induced slightly by the postion I found myself in at work - full of stress, in limbo with a diagnosis and basically nothing making sense.

So now it is 147, which seems far more acceptable and "normal" - well normal for on here at least

[Toad]

I got 144 You show high alexithymic traits. not surprising as I'm alexithymic!
with me its more like I can feel "things" but I dont automatically know if its a physical or emotional/mental "thing"
sometimes I'm aware of a "not right" feeling but I have to look at it as a (not sure of right word) intelectual/mental process to know what it means, eg. strange thing going on kinda behind lower lungy area, sort of empty hollow thing... ah hungry! its the same for if I need the loo "not urgently" I'm not always aware thats what it is straight away.
trying to describe how I feel is hard because I have no point of reference. what is happy, sad, depressed, love? I need a set of symptoms to know if thats what I have..
with physical stuff its kind of easier because I can do something and see if it works like go to the loo or eat and see if the feeling goes away.
to repeat roughly what someone on another site said "if I stood on the edge of a high roof I would still get the same "symptoms" as other people would but I couldnt identify why or what it meant." though in my case I get no "symptoms" so I guess I'm not scared of heights or I never learned to be cuz I didnt know what it was... hmm never thought of it that way before... cool.. found out a new bit..!
I can't find the best site I found before but wikipedia is ok on this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexithymia
ahh... ramble over... feel free to ask stuff...

[SomethingElse]

I re-did it. Tried to avoid answering 'undecided' to any of the questions. Found it a bit easier this time, possibly because I'm recently more used to other people analysing my behaviour and 'processes' and being in 'emotional' situations and unable to respond adequately or understand them.

166.

[Neo Noctivagus]

..."evaluate test results" button didn't work.

Yes. Irritating that.

I couldn't be bothered to add my test scores up.

[Sophist]

Doh... stopped working.