Alexythemia and Aspergers

Alexythemia is a neurological condition where the person cannot readily access emotional lexicon, has a poor ability to express emotion and to identify with the feelings of other people, and is generally emotionally immature. There is a website on this subject (type alexythemia into Google), and it contains an Alexythemia quiz/quotient. I scored very high alexythemia traits on this quiz, but I was interested to know how Alexythemia and aspergers converge. Alexythemia is a condition in its own right, and it usually, but not always, coexists with Asperger's syndrome, to a greater or lesser degree. There is also an impoverished fantasy world, and thinking tends to be practical, operational, or utilitarian in its nature, as opposed to feelings based. However, quite a few people with AS have a very rich, but atypical, imagination and fantasy world, so clearly not all people with AS are extremely alexythemic. Any thoughts?

Parents
  • I like your humour, autismtwo! Made me laugh.

    Regarding empathy, mine has grown over the years, but it is context specific. I only care in certain situations that I can identify with, for example if someone is in pain, or is going through something that I find emotionally resonant. I also struggle with understanding my own emotions, which often assume a bodily form.

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  • I like your humour, autismtwo! Made me laugh.

    Regarding empathy, mine has grown over the years, but it is context specific. I only care in certain situations that I can identify with, for example if someone is in pain, or is going through something that I find emotionally resonant. I also struggle with understanding my own emotions, which often assume a bodily form.

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