INSTRUCTIONS

Approximate time: 7-10 minutes to respond to 37 questions.

Please answer the questions according to what is true for you.

All responses are confidential.

Understanding Low Scores (0-94)

Your score is {totalScore143}, which falls into the low score range (0-94).

Score Breakdown

0-94: No to low prevalence of alexithymia-related traits

95-112: Moderate presence of alexithymia-related traits

113-185: High presence of alexithymia-related traits, indicating alexithymia is highly likely

This screener measures 7 factors: 

1. Difficulty identifying emotions
2. Difficulty describing feelings
3. Vicarious interpretation of feelings
4. Externally-oriented thinking
5. Restricted imaginative processes
6. Problematic interpersonal relationships
7. Sexual difficulties and disinterest. 

Research indicates that 40–65% of autistic people have alexithymia—or even as high as 70%.

Your Score Suggests:

A low prevalence of alexithymia-related traits, meaning you are likely able to recognize and describe your emotions with ease.

• You are probably quite in tune with your emotional states, able to identify and express feelings as they arise. You might also experience a strong ability to empathize with others, which can help in understanding their emotions and building strong, positive relationships.
  
  
• It is likely that you have good emotional awareness, and you may find it easier to process and articulate your emotions in a clear and accessible way. Your ability to understand emotional cues and respond appropriately to others contributes to more effective communication and better interpersonal interactions.
  
  
• With low alexithymia-related traits, you are probably equipped to handle emotional situations in a balanced way, making it easier to navigate both personal and social contexts smoothly.
  
  

When Low Alexithymia Is a Strength

Low scores on the OAQ-G2 suggest that you likely have strong emotional intelligence and communication skills, which can be valuable in numerous aspects of life, including:

• Effective communication: Your ability to recognize and express emotions clearly can lead to more authentic and open conversations, fostering better understanding and trust in your relationships.
  
  
• Empathy and social engagement: Recognizing and responding to the emotions of others helps you create positive emotional connections, whether in personal or professional relationships.
  
  
• Emotional regulation: Being aware of your own emotional state can help you better manage responses to stress, difficult situations, or conflict, allowing for more thoughtful and composed actions.
  
  
• Relationship building: Your emotional awareness and understanding of others' emotions allow you to cultivate deeper, more meaningful relationships, based on mutual respect and empathy.
  
  

Next Steps

If you find there are occasional moments when identifying or expressing certain emotions is difficult, our team of specialists can work with you to enhance your ability to navigate emotional landscapes, build stronger connections, and manage emotions in more complex situations.

Understanding Moderate Scores (95-112)

Your score is {totalScore143}, which falls into the moderate score range (95-112).

Score Breakdown

0-94: No to low prevalence of alexithymia-related traits, suggesting that you likely have a well-developed ability to identify, understand, and express both your emotions and the emotions of others.

95-112: Moderate presence of alexithymia-related traits, indicating some difficulty in identifying or expressing emotions, but these challenges do not significantly impact daily life or relationships.

113-185: High presence of alexithymia-related traits, suggesting that it is highly likely you experience difficulties in recognizing, expressing, and understanding emotions, both your own and those of others.

This screener measures 7 factors: 

1. Difficulty identifying emotions
2. Difficulty describing feelings
3. Vicarious interpretation of feelings
4. Externally-oriented thinking
5. Restricted imaginative processes
6. Problematic interpersonal relationships
7. Sexual difficulties and disinterest. 
   

Research indicates that 40–65% of autistic people have alexithymia—or even as high as 70%.

Your Score Suggests:

• A moderate presence of alexithymia-related traits, meaning you may occasionally find it difficult to identify or express certain emotions. However, this does not substantially interfere with your ability to engage in daily activities or build relationships.
  
  
• You might experience occasional difficulty in recognizing or articulating your emotions, particularly in complex or highly charged emotional situations. This could sometimes result in confusion or frustration when trying to process or describe your feelings.
  
  
• You may also find it challenging to fully understand the emotions of others, leading to occasional misinterpretations of social cues or difficulty in responding to others’ emotional needs. However, you likely possess good coping strategies to manage emotional situations, and your relationships may still be functional and supported by your communication skills and emotional awareness.
  
  

When Moderate Alexithymia is a Strength

Moderate scores on the OAQ-G2 suggest that while emotional identification and expression might be challenging at times, these traits can still serve as strengths in certain situations:

• Objective decision-making: A more detached or analytical approach to emotions can help you make decisions without being overly influenced by strong feelings, particularly in high-pressure or stressful situations.
  
  
• Emotional resilience: The moderate level of alexithymia may provide a buffer against emotional overwhelm, helping you stay composed and focused during emotional stress or conflict.
  
  
• Self-awareness and growth: Recognizing emotional challenges presents an opportunity for personal growth. With awareness, you can actively work on enhancing your emotional intelligence over time, improving your ability to process and communicate emotions effectively.
  
  

Next Steps

If you sometimes struggle with identifying or expressing your emotions, there are numerous techniques and practices that can help improve your emotional awareness and communication.

Our team of neuro-informed experts can work with you to explore strategies that foster greater emotional understanding and expression, as well as enhance your ability to read and respond to the emotions of others. 

Understanding High Scores (113-185)

Your score is {totalScore143}, which falls into the high score range (113-185).

Score Breakdown

0-94: No to low prevalence of alexithymia-related traits, suggesting that you likely have a well-developed ability to identify, understand, and express both your emotions and the emotions of others.

95-112: Moderate presence of alexithymia-related traits, indicating some difficulty in identifying or expressing emotions, but these challenges do not significantly impact daily life or relationships.

113-185: High presence of alexithymia-related traits, suggesting that it is highly likely you experience difficulties in recognizing, expressing, and understanding emotions, both your own and those of others.

This screener measures 7 factors: 

1. Difficulty identifying emotions
2. Difficulty describing feelings
3. Vicarious interpretation of feelings
4. Externally-oriented thinking
5. Restricted imaginative processes
6. Problematic interpersonal relationships
7. Sexual difficulties and disinterest. 
   
   

Research indicates that 40–65% of autistic people have alexithymia—or even as high as 70%.

Your Score Suggests:

A high prevalence of alexithymia-related traits, meaning you may experience significant challenges in identifying, understanding, and expressing emotions, both for yourself and others. This may manifest in several ways:

• You often struggle to recognize your own emotions or describe them accurately, which can make it difficult to articulate how you feel and lead to confusion or frustration.
  
  
• Understanding the emotional states of others may also be difficult, causing challenges in social situations and potentially leading to misinterpretations of others’ emotional cues or reactions.
  
  
• These difficulties can result in emotional experiences feeling overwhelming or unclear, which might impact your ability to respond effectively to emotions or engage deeply in emotional exchanges with others.
  
  
  

When High Alexithymia Is a Challenge

High scores on the OAQ-G2 suggest significant challenges related to emotional identification, expression, and regulation. These challenges can impact various aspects of your daily life, including:

• Difficulty with emotional awareness: Struggling to recognize or describe your emotions can lead to frustration or confusion about your internal emotional state, making it harder to understand how you feel in the moment.
  
  
• Challenges in social interactions: Difficulty recognizing and responding to emotional cues from others may make social interactions feel strained or lead to misunderstandings in relationships, as you might struggle to connect on an emotional level.
  
  
• Difficulty with emotional regulation: If you lack clarity about your emotions, you may find it difficult to manage intense feelings, potentially leading to stress or frustration in emotionally charged situations.
  
  
• Limited emotional expression: If expressing emotions is challenging, it might create a sense of emotional disconnect with others, making it harder to engage with them on a deeper emotional level, particularly when emotional sharing is expected or needed.
  
  
  

Next Steps

If difficulties with emotional awareness, expression, or understanding are affecting your daily life or relationships, there are strategies that can help you navigate and manage these challenges.

Our team of neuro-informed experts can assist you in developing techniques to improve emotional recognition, expression, and understanding. Click "Next" to get started!

What's Next?

You will be sent a copy of your scores if you've provided your email address.

If you marked that you are interested in counseling services, our Client Care Coordinator will be in touch within 24 hours to connect you with one of our experts.

Please feel free to reach out to our Client Care Coordinator, Cassie Clayton, if you have any questions in the meantime!

Email : clientcare@newpathfamily.com

Text or Call: (408) 475-2746