Do you struggle to understand your emotions?
Then there might be a valid explanation for that; it’s called alexithymia. This personality trait makes it difficult for individuals to recognise, verbalise, understand, or express emotions.
While it’s not a clinical diagnosis, alexithymia is often linked to conditions like depression, anxiety, autism, ADHD, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The word comes from Greek and roughly means “no words for emotions.”
Key Characteristics:
- Difficulty Identifying and describing feelings:
- Trouble verbalising emotions:
- Limited imagination and fantasy:
- Externally oriented thinking:
- Impact and associations:
- Relationship difficulties:
- Mental health conditions:
- Somatic symptoms:
- Interoception:
It is important to note that this list is not fully exhaustive and should not be used as a diagnostic tool!
So, is this a new thing?
Alexithymia is a term you may not have heard before, but it describes something many people experience difficulty identifying, distinguishing, and expressing emotions. This can influence how someone connects with their feelings at work, in relationships, and even in their self-awareness.
It was first introduced in research during the 1970s, though it’s not considered a clinical diagnosis. It’s estimated to affect around 10% of the general population.
Recognising alexithymia in someone else can be challenging. Often, individuals don’t even realise they’re experiencing it themselves. It’s a deeply internal experience, making it harder to spot from the outside.
Alexithymia is closely linked to interoception, our ability to sense, interpret, and label internal bodily states. People with reduced interoception, a condition sometimes called alexisomia, may struggle to even recognise basic physical cues like hunger, thirst, fatigue, arousal, or pain.
Alexithymia and Autism
It is important to recognise that alexithymia is not a uniform or monolithic construct; rather, it presents considerable individual variability. Prevalence rates are notably higher among autistic individuals, with estimates ranging from 33% to 66%, in contrast to approximately 10% in the general population.
Elevated rates of alexithymia have also been observed in individuals diagnosed with ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, and depression.
For some, alexithymia appears to be a longstanding trait present from early development, while for others, it may emerge later in life, often in response to psychological trauma.
Is there a cure?
While alexithymia isn’t something that’s “cured” in a traditional sense, there are effective coping mechanisms and strategies that can help individuals manage it and improve emotional awareness over time.
Helpful Suggestions…
🧠Psychological & Therapeutic Approaches
Psychotherapy (especially CBT or MBT)
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
Mindfulness-based therapies
📓 Practical Daily Coping Strategies
Journaling
Emotion wheels or charts
Body check-Ins
Structured reflection
🤝 Social & Support-Based Strategies
Talking to trusted people
Group therapy or peer support groups
🧩 Creative Outlets
Art, Music, dance, or movement exercise, nature blue & green therapy!
I hope this article has been useful, and please share if it resonated with you today!
Nicky Bates
15-04-25
