Dr. Dawn Neumann discusses alexithymia intervention

[@raechaotic9537]

Omg, this is why I had such a hard time in therapy (for the 2 months that I went lol) because I didn't know how to express my emotions or let alone recognize what exactly those emotions were. I was just kinda numb or empty but not in the way I'd feel when going through a depressive episode. Like, the question "how are you feeling today?" was and still it SO HARD because saying I'm "fine" isn't necessary a lie but it isn't entirely the truth either.

[@mariac4602]

I worked as a behaviorist with children with autism and I always created "how I feel" and "what I can do when I feel...." charts for children with emotional dysregulation. The "how I feel' was an image of the emotion and the 'what I can do" was the result of observing what strategies worked best for each emotion-different for each child. It was a simple but powerful tool. Same with picture communication systems. It was important to not just learn how to request for material needs like food, sleep, toilet, but also to express the deeper part of their humanity -their need to communicate emotions.

[@valhalla1240]

I was wondering whether the reason why people with alexithymia display a lack of control over their aggressions was because rage is a secondary emotion. It usually follows a primary emotion such as fear. But someone with alexithymia wouldn't recognize their fear. There would be some delay and by that time fear would have turned into rage.

[@bt9124]

spot on

[@feelthebowes]

Perfect description of my better half’s daily rage episodes. I would also say that Alexithymia is a driving force behind the avoidance that she displays when I engage her to communicate in order to resolve a conflict. Especially a conflict that is derived from the bouts of intense emotionality, usually rage, with her closest loved ones, being the most frequent recipients. There is obviously the link with her BPD traits as well.

[@yeslol4794]

I got on this video cuz of not only what happened today, when my dad pointed out i might have Alexithymia, but also the last time i went to my therapist, i couldn't describe how i felt to her, nowadays i dont think shes gonna want me to come back cause of how i couldnt express myself. There's fear, sadness, and anger that i felt these last few days, i dont even know what to do anymore honestly

[@thecreativemastermin]

This video looks like it was made for me. He vocabulary is so, SO ACCURATE!

[@qwedschy8285]

Is alexithymia also linked to having sandwich breath?

[@NoahTomato]

Just like discovering alexithymia. You need to be able to “diagnose” the issue, to treat it. And I’m grateful I have self awareness and a degree in psychology. Because I think I just found my problem. Watching dozens of videos on it rn

[@GordonGarvey]

I really don't think alexithymia has any correlation with excessive anger.

[@rubievale]

I suspect I have this, and the only emotion I have access to is anger, or more accurately, rage. It comes on instantly, and it's powerful, but I haven't been in a position where it's been a major issue for quite some time. I don't feel much of anything else. I don't experience love, joy, happiness, sadness, or awe, but I can feel anger. I'm 56, so I've learned to regulate and control it, but when I was younger, I could be a spiteful bastard.

[@rabiez_luvr6910]

@@icvideos1621I think that’s quite common in men with alexthymia. Men have more pressure put on them to channel any emotion they have through aggressive responses/anger other wise they aren’t “”real men””. Alexthymia often eliminates the emotions you “aren’t supposed feel”. I, on the other hand, can’t remember the last time I felt genuine anger towards something. I am a girl, so that probably has something to do with it.

[@youtubefans510]

according to internet alexythymia is mostly linked to trauma , but also prevalent amongst those with autism

[@criticadorauniversal]

and what treatment does it offer?

[@WarningBFG-isHiring]

I think I have it because I went to a therapist and couldn’t describe what I felt. Like at all. I didn’t know how I felt. I don’t know how to feel like at all.

[@rahbeeuh]

Understandable. So do you go to another therapist who knows what alexithymia is?

[@lukaaaaaaaAAAAĀĀĀĀĀ-b7n]

Is there a way to learn this power?

[@AmbivalentAlexthymic]

I disagree. I control my emotion TOO MUCH because of alexithymia. But i acquiesce with the therapy.

[@feelthebowes]

THISSSS!!!!

[@arasharfa]

how is this different from mentalization based therapy?

[@faisalbi1330]

Hi there is cognitive behavioral therapy helps emotions come back in the brain?

[@Plasmafox]

Awareness... so it's just more mindfulness "hammer therefore nail", and the main motive is stopping people from expressing emotions that are inconvenient for others, like anger and making sure first and foremost that patients maintain *docility.* You're part of the problem.

[@mariac4602]

I don't think this is what she's saying. I think she is trying to help people who don't know WHAT they are feeling, to find ways to uncover the actual emotions they are experiencing. Once you know what you are actually feeling, you are More in control of your life. I have a loved one with this condition, and therapy was a bust and she was confused and felt like a failure because of that but the reality is, she FEELS but isn't sure exactly what she is feeling so often it takes processing through many beliefs about what she feels and why before she has that ah-ha moment and can label what she actually feels. Then you can see her relief because now she feels like she is in control. It's actually liberating for her but she need someone to patiently sit with her for a good few hours each time to allow this process to fully play out. Often her anger is really sadness, or loneliness, or shame or fear. I wonder if the default to anger is because the emotions people experience are So strong and anger is, by it's very nature, a very intense emotion, so people with alexithymia assumes it's anger?

[@natashagates6280]

Not accurate