Hi. I hope this isn't a bother, but I wanted to ask a question.
Is it possible for someone with SzPD to mask or have no flat affect?
For example, I feel extreme apathy. I rarely feel strong emotions, and when I do, it doesn't last very long. I don't strongly feel joy. However, I laugh, smile, and cry. I don't know if that's possible in SzPD, and from how I see other people with SzPD talk about their expressions, it doesn't seem so. I'd like to not express so many emotions, but it just happens.
I want to make it clear I'm not looking for a diagnosis; I just want to know your thoughts.
Yes, this is possible, and it comes up often. Schizoid experience is defined more by internal orientation and how emotion is processed than by outward expression. Someone may experience apathy, low emotional pull, or emotions that fade quickly, while still laughing, smiling, or crying due to habit, social learning, or automatic response. Flat affect is not required for SzPD, and expression does not reliably indicate emotional depth or attachment. I’ve written a full article on this topic that looks more closely at why outward expression and inner experience often do not line up in schizoid patterns (posting now).