Can alexithymia get worse?

I recognise and understand all of the words on that wheel picture. I do not recognise feeling any of them individually at any one time.

I seem to operate at multiple levels all the time so one part may be up while the other is down for different reasons. The sum is always 'meh'.

Thank you for the wheel. I have saved a copy of this in my phone i think it will be helpful.

Today after miscommunication with my partner i felt this feeling rising in my chest. I couldnt explain why i was feeling worked up and didnt know myself. I was trying to work through it but didnt come to a full conclusion so the feeling continued. I will use the wheel in future. I think its because i was misunderstood and my point wasnt validated by the other person. So i think, frustration.

Similarly just before, looking outside the window to be greeted/blinded by neighbours bright security lights (mentioned in another thread) i felt sad. I like the darkness and its otherwise fairly dark put the back. So ive just looked at this wheel and can see i ferl sad because i feel powerless. 

Thank you for sharing.

I’ve got that too. The wheel. I’m just not sure what emotion should I pick? I’m fine with primary ones but secondary and tertiary? I’m not sure. If I’m angry I know I’m angry and that’s it. If I’m sad - I’m sad. I’m not even sure why and what I feel most of the time. Mostly I’m just “OK”, “neutral”, “so-so” or “tired”. And I know I’ve got strong emotions because certain things and situations make me laugh or cry but I wouldn’t be able to tell what I feel (even with the emotion wheel) - just overwhelmed by inseparable mixture of emotions (sadness/happiness/anger)

I was provided with an emotions wheel when I received my diagnosis.  This does help with trying to verbalise things, but it still doesn't help me to recognise certain emotions.  I am fairly good at recognising Angry emotions.  Bad, fearful and disgust, I can only identify a few, but happy, surprised or sad I really struggle with.  I'm not sure I could explain these well or know when I have experienced them.  I know the types of situations you should feel them in, I just don't think I have experienced them in the same way as other people might.

Do you find you struggle with other things other than emotions?  I don't recognise when I am thirsty or ill until it is really bad and I have to figure out what is wrong.  This used to be the same for being hungry as well and needing to eat.  I would forget to eat for days when I was younger and as a result became very thin.  Now I rely on drinking and eating as being a habit and making sure I complete these at certain times.  Food is also one of my special interests so this has helped me overcome not recognising when to eat.

I saw this on facebook recently and think it will help me.

Hi Starbuck, glad I'm not alone but sorry to hear you're in the same situation. I think you're right that number 2 may be ultimately better, but more difficult. Number 1 is easier, but isn't a cure. I've done similar things to the list of exciting stuff that Plastic suggested above (thanks Plastic btw) and certainly found some emotions in learning to ride motorbikes, owning and riding them to an advanced standard (I taught this for a while too), and rediscovering some childlike joy. But ultimately, for me, the bucket list approach seems to verge on hedonism which defeats itself I think, because it's impossible to be satisfied. Looking back at my original post I was already hinting at this; new experiences can't go on forever (well, maybe they could, but it depends how you define "new").

Almost certainly, as we age everything becomes more familiar and less "new" (Christmas anyone?).

I can't think of a good "answer" at the moment............

I have several serious health conditions so NTs label me as being severely depressed. They often don't understand that I don't do emotions like normal people so they are measuring a null-state of my mask. I do not have a response that they expect to any situation. 

The clinical interrogations where they 'measure' me are artificial so I don't have a pre-prepared 'clinic mode' to make them happy.

I think they are projecting their view of how they would feel in this situation.

I'm glad I came across this topic as I was about to post a similar one of my own.  I am very much like you in that I have managed depression for years and I am doing really well now compared to how things have been and given the time of year etc.  However, I am also finding I am in the 'meh' stage most of the time.  As for emotions I can recognise fear/anxiety (recent discovery as I assumed these were depression) although I don't know if there is a difference between the two - anger, but rarely experienced these days, frustration and then just a good feeling; however good feeling(s) are very rare and fleeting.

Like you I have wondered if it has worsened as I have aged, or if I need to do more to try and 'feel' things like I am supposed to be?

There are two things I am debating with myself:

1 - Do I need to do more that will invoke emotions?

2 - Do I need to learn what emotions are and identify them?

I am thinking the latter may be better and more successful, but I don't even know how I would even start to go about this without having deep pockets to pay a specialist counselor.

Then it's just a case of ticking them off - I've done many strange things in my life and I still have loads of things I want to do.

BTW - I've done the things I suggested. I done aerobatic flying lessons, raced a Ferarri 360, taxied a Lancaster, walked on the roof of a cathedral, abseiled off a 200' cliff, organised a motor show, had whip-cracking lessons, machine-gun target practice, done loads of big roller-coasters - the world is your oyster.

Haha yes I've kinda thought through that and I do have a bucket list of implausible and probably un-achievable things! Unfortunately my budget is quite limited nowadays having adjusted my work as part of a downsizing strategy and then forgetting to downsize 

I'm done with Christmas Cards said:

So I can't expect "new exciting things" to go on forever.

Depends on your imagination and amount of money you have available.

I think it's pefectly feasible. Have you flown a helicopter? Done some stunt driving? Swimming with sharks without a cage?