Are you alexithymic?

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alexithymia

Here’s an interesting quiz to find out how in touch you are with your own or other’s emotions.
Alexithymia is a Greek term meaning emotional blindness (a–without; lex–word; thymia–feeling). A person with alexithymia has problems understanding their own emotional state or those of other people. They may feel emotionally numb or even have a flat affect. They could be extremely reserved or shy, or just seem aloof or cold to others. They could come across as “mysterious” or inaccessible.

Low levels of alexithymia are correlated with high empathy, ability to engage emotionally in relationships, and having an active imagination. A very low score would indicate neediness and high emotional lability (common in most people with BPD, Histrionic PD, or Dependent PD).

Personality disorders associated with alexithymia are Schizoid, Antisocial, Avoidant, Narcissistic, Obsessive Compulsive, and sometimes Schizotypal. PTSD can also be associated with alexithymia.

Here is the test:
http://www.alexithymia.us/test-alex.html

My results:

My total score was 108 (possible alexithymic).

Category: Difficulty Identifying Feelings: 17 Points
In this category you show some alexithymic traits.

Category: Difficulty Describing Feelings: 10 Points
In this category you show no alexithymic traits.

Category: Vicarious Interpretation of Feelings: 11 Points
In this category you show high alexithymic traits.

Category: Externally-Oriented Thinking: 17 Points
In this category you show no alexithymic traits.

Category: Restricted Imaginative Processes: 18 Points
In this category you show some alexithymic traits.

Category: Problematic Interpersonal Relationships: 20 Points
In this category you show high alexithymic traits.

Category: Sexual Difficulties and Disinterest: 15 Points
In this category you show high alexithymic traits.

This seems to describe me well.

29 thoughts on “Are you alexithymic?”

  4. UH OH?
    Test Results: 121 Points
    Alexithymia: You show high alexithymic traits.
    Result

    Your result is broken down into various factors to give you some insight into your result.

    Category: Difficulty Identifying Feelings: 28 Points
    In this category you show high alexithymic traits.

    Category: Difficulty Describing Feelings: 16 Points
    In this category you show high alexithymic traits.

    Category: Vicarious Interpretation of Feelings: 15 Points
    In this category you show high alexithymic traits.

    Category: Externally-Oriented Thinking: 27 Points
    In this category you show high alexithymic traits.

    Category: Restricted Imaginative Processes: 9 Points
    In this category you show no alexithymic traits.

    Category: Problematic Interpersonal Relationships: 12 Points
    In this category you show no alexithymic traits.

    Category: Sexual Difficulties and Disinterest: 14 Points
    In this category you show high alexithymic traits.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Interesting.

    My score is 84, which is: “Non-alexithymia: You show few to no alexithymic traits.” In the breakdown of the seven categories, I have no alexithymic traits in five categories, and some alexithymic traits in two categories: Externally-Oriented Thinking and Restricted Imaginative Processes. To which I say: Huh?

    What I’m wondering is why they ask for your blood type. Seriously, what does AB negative have to do with it?

    Right now my emotional state is: Mildly Amused. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Ew! I love finding information like this. It’s very enlightening!! Thank you for the link. I took it just for fun but I knew I more then likely wouldn’t have any traits because I’m HSP (highly sensitive person) and have very high empathy. Sure enough I got a 49. Then I had my boyfriend take it who is a narcissist and he got 142 with high alexthyemia traits in all areas except one. I feel like I already had a hunch to all of his traits but it’s nice to know I’m not crazy in the way I feel he’s acting cold. It was nice to see the results confirm what I am dealing with daily and visually see a list of my hardships with the relationship. Good post!

    Liked by 1 person

      • Not at all offended. From being in this relationship I discovered both that I was HSP and he was a narcissist. If I had that insight prior to the relationship starting I would have run as fast as I could the other direction. I only figured all this out about two months ago. Since then I’ve been trying to figure out what to do since we have a kid together. The other day I finally decided to split once I save up some money. So what do I get from the relationship? Lots and lots of hurt. Other than that, a roof over my head and minimal help with my daughter. Not a whole lot outside of that.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Interesting quiz. As I was answering the questions I kept thinking how differently I would have answered most of them if I’d taken the quiz ten years ago. It’s weird… there was a time I would scoffed at the idea that I had any difficulty describing or identifying feelings. (My score was 111.)

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  10. I got 118 which I guess is higher than I expected, though I have had people tell me that sometimes I am a bit of a cold fish. Thank goodness I’m beyond caring what other people think about me! Didn’t check into the breakdown of results by issue, either.

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