Finding the right words to express ourselves can be challenging at times. If you frequently encounter emotions that seem elusive, you might be experiencing symptoms of alexithymia.
Individuals with alexithymia struggle not only to articulate their emotions but may also find it hard to differentiate between feelings and bodily sensations.
For instance, when you see someone you once admired while walking down the street, you might feel your chest tighten and your heart race. These physical responses could signify nervousness or excitement.
Unlike those without alexithymia, who can quickly identify their emotions, those with the condition may need to search their memories or the contextual clues before they can name their feelings.
Since recognizing emotions is crucial for effective emotion regulation, alexithymia can hinder the management of intense feelings, whether negative or positive.
This trait is a personality aspect rather than a specific disorder or syndrome. While the precise cause remains unclear, research has indicated that both genetic and environmental factors may play a role.
Approximately 13 percent of the population may experience some form of alexithymia, with studies suggesting a higher prevalence in men than in women .
Additionally, alexithymia is linked to common traits associated with neurological disorders that may emerge following trauma or brain injury, such as experiences after a stroke or epilepsy.
A review conducted by psychologists in 2018 highlighted that alexithymia overlaps considerably with autism, with one in two individuals on the autism spectrum potentially facing alexithymia.
While no cure exists for this condition, it has been proposed that improving emotional awareness through practice may be possible.
This involves engaging with exercises that connect physical sensations to specific emotions, as well as expanding our “emotional vocabulary” to better articulate our inner experiences.
This article addresses the question “Am I alexithymic?” as posed by Lochlan Booth from Durham.
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
