Traumatic Brain Injury

[Triton]

Most here would be familiar with the usual conditions in which
alexithymia appears- eg. Autism spectrum disorders, Post traumatic
stress disorder, anorexia, Asperger's, depressive disorders, drug
addiction, etc.

Studies also show that a massive 60% of those with Traumatic Brain
Injury also have alexithymia. Some researchers refer to this as
"organic alexithymia" in order to show that it was not the result of
psychological trauma, but of head injury.

The studies show that whether caused by psychological or organic
influences, the parts of the brain which are dysfunctional are the
same parts.

It pays to remember that alexithymia can be cause in different ways,
and if it is cause by traumatic brain injury it may not be reversable
(unlike in psychological cases where it is hypothetically reversible).

Triton

[Triton]

Here's the title of the study which found 60% of people with Traumatic
Brain Injury had Alexithymia, and the link:

'Alexithymia and emotional empathy following traumatic brain injury'
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a912610752

There are lots of other studies confirming this one.

I have a question. Does anyone on this forum identify themselves as
having developed Alexithymia from a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Triton

[sparx104]

Interestingly: ASDs (incl. AS) have physical changes to the structure
and "working" of the brain (as shown on fMRI's). There is also some
evidence that PTSD causes physical changes to the structure of the
brain as well. I'd imagine drug addiction probably doesn't do the
brain much good physically either.

It makes you wonder if it's always underpinned by physical changes,
it's just that in "psychological" cases there exists the capability to
work around the problem or for the brain to rewire itself. This would
presumably be lost in a injury or disease or just not be there in the
case in the "being born with it" (eg. ASDs) - it's easier to *re*-
learn something than learn something from scratch (assuming it's
possible).

Unfortunately, it looks like (due to AS) I was born with it and have
no hope for a "cure" and am, apparently, destined to remain apart from
the rest of humanity who's "normal"...