Topic: Is this Alexithymia? Describing personalities

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Is this Alexithymia? Describing personalities
29.06.2013 by erabo

I recently came across alexithymia and thought that it somewhat described me. I took the questionnaire and scored 131 (shows high probability for alexithymic traits)
Although what I am about to describe isn't exactly 'being unable to identify and understand other people's emotions', I'm wondering whether it could be a facet of alexithymia?

I am unable to identify and describe people's personalities. When I try to describe a person's personality, I just come up blank. It's not for lack of trying, just nothing pops up in my head. I know that people are unique and different, but I can't put in words what makes up a specific person's personality.
For example, if you asked me to describe my best friend, I could tell you her physical description, but when it comes to non-physical traits, I wouldn't be able to tell you anything.

Is this phenomena a facet of alexithymia? Do other alexithymics experience this?
If this isn't alexithymia, is there another word for this?

Re: Is this Alexithymia? Describing personalities
13.10.2013 by NedSeagoon

Before I found information clueing me up to how I feel I am only this morning, and finding myself on here, I can ask the very same question. Through my experience of my family and friends, I know them fairly well to myself; but describing them to someone else, well that's another ball game.

I recall that I gauge my friends depending on how well they relate to some of my knowledge, insamuch that things they are interested in can make them closer friends, My having a daft sense of humour relates to other people, so I get through the day on a personal level with some, but also recall that I have specifically attributed a few of them with having "insecurities", and know that I have insecurities myself.

I reckon what I'm trying to say is this - I believe I can identify to a degree some traits in others which I have experienced myself, which works to a small degree, but certainly not many traits. Does that make sense?

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