Affective flattening is one of the psychological pathologies that affects a large part of the world’s population. People who suffer from it present symptoms and their quality of life is affected. Likewise, the context in which they occur has a direct relationship with the emotions, thoughts and behaviors demonstrated by those who go through this process.
Several researchers have done a precise study about the main characteristics that make up this psychological condition. Due to the difficulties caused by this psychological condition, it is necessary to acquire certain true data that allows us to better understand and address this clinical condition. In this Psychology-Online article, we will provide you with information about What is emotional flattening and how to detect it.
What is emotional flattening?
Affective flattening is a condition that is characterized by impossibility or inability of a person to react facing various stimuli that arise in daily life. People who experience affective flattening may describe themselves as feeling apathetic, indifferent, or disconnected from their emotions. They may have difficulty experiencing joy, sadness, or any other emotion intensely.
Thus, people with emotional flattening have difficulties expressing emotions through wordss and actions. Although it is complex to place affective flattening within the diagnoses established by the DSM-V, it is possible to identify this pathology in various clinical conditions, such as in cases of senile dementia, schizophrenia, as well as in people who have suffered verbal and/or physical abuse, sexual abuse, among others.
Symptoms of flattened affectivity
Flattened affectivity has a series of physical, emotional and behavioral manifestations that make it possible to detect it in time. Symptoms of emotional flattening can vary from person to person, but generally include:
- diminished emotions: One of the main characteristics of affective flattening is the decrease in emotional intensity. You may experience a reduction in the ability to feel positive or negative emotions, leading to a general feeling of dullness or emotional unresponsiveness.
- Difficulty experiencing pleasure: You may have trouble experiencing joy, excitement, or pleasure in activities that used to be rewarding for you. Even things that once gave you pleasure may seem less exciting or meaningful.
- Lack of interest: You may lose interest in social activities, hobbies, or interpersonal relationships. Lack of motivation and enthusiasm can lead to a decrease in participation in activities that used to interest you.
- Limited emotional expression: You may have difficulty expressing your emotions appropriately. You may appear expressionless, display a limited emotional range, or have difficulty communicating your feelings to others.
- Apathy and disinterest: You may feel a general feeling of disinterest, disinterest, or indifference toward your environment and the things around you. You may feel emotionally disconnected from the situations and people that used to matter to you.
- emotional fatigue: You may experience a persistent feeling of emotional exhaustion or exhaustion. Dulled emotions can lead to a feeling of constant emotional exhaustion.
Despite this description, it is important that the diagnosis be established by a mental health professional who evaluates the clinical conditions of each person. To achieve this, aspects such as age, sex, pre-existing diseases or family history, among others, must be taken into account.
What causes emotional flattening
There are some factors that predispose the appearance of blunted affectivity. In the next items we will develop what causes affective flattening:
- Environmental factors: constitute those life experiences in which the person has suffered high levels of anguish, stress and/or discomfort that generated the symptoms of the condition. Here it is also possible to include traffic accidents, death of loved ones or significant losses, among others.
- Genetic factors: The role that genetics plays in the development of this condition should not be ignored. In many people who suffer from affective flattening, there are neuronal connections linked to information processing that are altered. This is especially seen in severe cases.
Treatment of emotional flattening
The treatments for emotional dullness that have demonstrated good efficacy and effectiveness, and allow an improvement in the quality of life of people who suffer from this condition, are the following:
- Psychotherapeutic therapy: Individual therapy, such as , can be beneficial in addressing emotional flattening. A therapist can help you explore and understand the underlying causes of your symptoms, as well as develop strategies to increase emotional expression and intensity.
- Medication: In some cases, psychiatric medications may be prescribed that reduce the intensity of the symptoms of affective flattening, especially if it is related to an underlying mental illness, such as depression or bipolar disorder. , mood stabilizers or antipsychotics may be considered under a doctor’s supervision. However, it is essential that the intake of these drugs be supervised by a mental health professional.
- Emotional stimulation therapy: Some complementary therapies, such as art therapy, music therapy, or dance therapy, can help stimulate emotional expression and experience in a creative and safe environment.
- Changes in lifestyle: Adopting a healthy lifestyle can have a positive impact on your emotional state. This includes maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly, establishing proper sleep routines, and reducing stress.
- Social support: Maintaining social connections and seeking support from friends, family, or support groups can be beneficial in combating emotional flattening. Sharing your feelings and experiences with people you trust can help you feel more emotionally connected.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to What is emotional flattening and how to detect itwe recommend that you enter our category.
References
- American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th edition). Arlington: Panamericana Medical Publishing.
Bibliography
- Donnoli, VF, Santos, LG, Sepich Almeida, T., Ferreyra, P. (2007). Affective flattening in schizophrenia: qualitative study. Argentine Journal of Neuropsychiatric Clinic, 14 (2), 26-36.
- López Melero, M. (2018). Affective indifference as a harmful personality trait. Yearbook of Criminal Law and Criminal Sciences Magazine, 21 (1), 265-305.