What is affective dullness and why does it occur?

Through its name you easily get a reference of what it is: a failure in the affective and emotional capacity of the individual. The causes and consequences are usually quite serious, so it is important to identify it for proper intervention and treatment.

The main characteristic of this pathology isan affective flattening, which is understood as a loss of emotional expression(1).

In the following article we will know more precisely what affective dullness is about, the causes, characteristics and treatments to apply.

What is affective dullness?

Affective dullness is a scientific term attributed to a lack of emotional reactivity. It can occur as a symptom of mental illnesses and disorders or can be a consequence of them.

Note: It is motivated by an internalization of disaffection and therefore does not allow reaction to circumstances in general or verbal or non-verbal affective demonstrations. It has an extremely low intensity, even considered almost non-existent.

Causes of affective dullness

As we mentioned previously, affective dullnesscan be considered as a problem that comes from the presence of psychological disorders, which produce the lack of reaction toemotions. They will be mentioned below and described the relationship they have with this pathology.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia presentstwo types of syndromes, the positive syndrome that is characterized by delusions, hallucinationsand thought disorders whilethe negative is one that presents attention disorder, affective dullnessand associability.

They are considered as a lack ofpsychological processesand is a characteristic symptom of this pathology as long as it presents with negative syndromes, thus producingaffective flattening, which is an indicator of chronicity and severity in schizophrenia(2).

Psychosis

A psychosis is considered, according to Eugen Bleuler, in a serious state from the disappearance of emotions. They show indifference to the discomfort of their relatives and although it is not a total elimination but (considered by Ernest Kretschmer) an Emotional Anesthesia(3) it is still an alarming symptom.

Psychosis is also characterized by presenting confused thoughts, hallucinations, changes in behavior and perception of events and elements in their environment (4)

Autism

Individuals with autism have the inability to express, or at least correctly, their emotions, so the presence of affective blunting is very common in these cases.

Autistic people, through the studies of the University of Barcelona, , can be characterized as being cold, absent, lacking affective demonstrations although it really happens that they show it in ways other than the perception that we consider correct and common (5) .

Emotional and psychological trauma

Strong traumas can lead to suppressing reactions to emotions. It produces difficulty, due to the severe pain to which the individual has been subjected and therefore it is considered a pattern of avoiding stimuli whether or not they are associated with the trauma produced, which leads to emotional deterioration.

Depression

Affective blunting or within the pathology of depression defined as emotional flattening, is a phenomenon considered psychopathological that inactivates the ability to experience emotions. It is an affective indifference that is considered a characteristic symptom as in schizophrenia.

To highlight: This affective insensitivity, in cases of depression , is quite serious because there is a greater risk factor for suicide.

extreme stress

Post-traumatic stress, which is usually extreme and potential , is considered in some way as an unconscious reaction that is applied to avoid suffering collateral or prolonged damage, producing an emotional closure where it seems that nothing affects them.

Note: It is disabling the elements that cause alterations in the organism or Nervous System , also failing to appreciate the positive experiences and deteriorating the quality of life and the ability to have assertive personal relationships.

Consumption of psychoactive substances

The abuse of certain substances produces an affective trait that is affected by biological indicators.

In a research article carried out by a Spanish organization on “Emotions and addiction”, they explain that people who become addicted to certain substances generate less brain activation, unless it is directly related to consumption (6 )

They also mention that the majority of consumers, whether they are depressing or exciting substances, have problems in recognizing emotions due to their low level referenced with their body’s reactions to external elements such as psychoactive substances.

Characteristics of affective blunting

Affective blunting, beyond being an inhibition and emotional conflict, has certain characteristics that allow us to better understand the nature of this pathology.

Difficulty expressing emotions

As we have been mentioning throughout the article, the main characteristic of recognition of affective blunting is the difficulty that individuals present in expressing feelings or emotions. They are akin to disaffection and total Detachment from any type of reaction.

Indifference to others

The indifference is not only with one’s own feelings, but also towards others, which limits the ability to interact or have empathy . Affective blunting brings with it disinterest and apathy in emotional participation.

Facial expressions and postures are not consistent with the surroundings

Among the elements that characterize affective blunting is an immutable facial expression, so that the manifestation of feelings or sensations through gestures is unlikely. There is also a decrease in gestures or even their inappropriate use, due to the difficulty of internalizing situations or emotions.

No eye contact

Another determining factor is the decrease in eye contact when communicating or even listening. Therapists often use this element as a sign that a condition is actually occurring in the ability to become emotionally involved with whatever element is present.

Reluctance to interact with other people

The lack of interest and apathy for living or interacting with other people is very latent. They present difficulties caused by affective blunting and by their own decision to avoid being involved in something that could, in the long term, produce a risk that alters their “emotional stability”.

It can generate tremors, intense sweating and palpitations

In the existence of the disorder, there are also physical symptoms that are closely related to anxiety ,since there is a lack of coordination within the stimuli and reactions. Presented:

• sweating
• palpitations
• Tremors
• Whistling Breath

Treatment for affective blunting

To intervene in the presence of an affective numbness, there are certain treatments that allow the reduction of the conditions, effects and symptoms that make the person incapable of expressing everything that is going through over time.

Next, we mention two of the most important ones and we emphasize that professional help is always necessary. And since mental health is as important as physical health, externalizing our feelings will allow them to flow, avoiding adverse effects that can gradually turn off the light.

Psychotherapy

It is important to apply therapies as soon as the problem is detected, allowing the individual to understand the importance of affective relationships and the externalization of feelings and emotions.

Note: These therapies are usually primary care, which means that it is most recommended to be complemented with medical treatments where external aid is applied to overcome the pathology.

Psychoactive drugs

The use of antidepressants is the most efficient for this type of conditions, but the complementation with psychotherapy will reduce the risk of relapses or an undesirable coexistence to present addictions in the patient.

Although the treatment against depression can cause the presence of affective flattening as part of the main symptoms, it is considered a clinical symptom in which they focus biologically to determine the correct treatment. It leads towards selective inhibition and prevents the persistence of numbness from affecting normalized social, work and affective capacity.

Key takeaways

• Affective blunting is a scientific term that is attributed to a lack of emotional reactivity. It can occur as a symptom of mental illnesses and disorders or can be a consequence of them. It can also be said that it is a failure in the affective and emotional capacity of the individual.
• The causes of affective blunting can be considered as a problem that is derived from a psychological disorder such as schizophrenia, psychosis, autism, depression, very strong emotional traumas, among others.
• Among its characteristics we find that people with affective blunting have difficulty expressing their emotions, have indifference towards others, so they are not empathic, do not establish eye contact, produce rejection to interact with other people, etc.
• Affective blunting can be treated with psychotherapy and/or psychotropic drugs. But it is important that when certain characteristics are detected, go to a professional who determines the condition and therefore the treatment to follow.