Robert Williams

I have emotions as well. I laugh and cry. I love my family and am easily frustrated by things that don't meet my expectations. I know I have these emotions because of the way I act or react. But if someone were to ask me at any given time what emotion I am experiencing my answer would be dependent on my actions, not on any internal or mental sensation. I never thought to ask this of anyone but, how do most people determine what emotion they are experiencing?

I just tried and I don't think I can. I do make architectural sheet metal components for a living though and people in my line of work don't seem to understand how I can know what two dimensional shape I need to produce a three dimensional object. I don't really know how to explain it either. I guess it's just information without the "visual" component, maybe similar to the way a computer might be able to perform the same task. Do you feel where in your head you are using to try to produce a mental image? It might seem like an odd question but there is an area about an inch back from my forehead, two inches down from the top of my head, and slightly off center to the lefgt where it seems like I feel a sensation when I try to form a mental image. It is the same sensation I experience when I am considering abstract concepts or philosophical questions.

I am definitely in the time frame by context camp. Memories for me are "I did/saw/experienced X". There is nothing else to them and when I think about them I don't feel any describable connection to them other than I know they are my experiences. Kind of the same way when I try to picture something in my mind there is just a sense of what something looks like, nothing that could be considered visual.

Yes. It does seem like it would be difficult to find the opportunity to get confirmation. I, having discovered this only recently, wouldn't even know where to start And I think the nature of SDAM makes it uniquely difficult since it obscures the reference points for proper self assessment. I have heard of alexithymia and I would say I have difficulty understanding my own emotional state but I'm unsure if, again, this is a case of not having the proper reference points. I'm not sure if this is common for people who have SDAM, but it seems logical that if your memories lack emotional content you would not have the necessary reference points to assess your present emotions.