Many believe that recognizing emotions is an automatic thing.
An instinct.
A given.
But, actually, there are many people who have trouble identifying their own feelings.
The clinical name for this is "Alexithymia" ~pronounced (Alex-ee-time-eeya) .
People who experience Alexithymia are unable to recognize their own emotions and their subtleties, to understand or describe these emotions, and they sometimes misunderstand the emotional experience of others.
Alexithymia was coined from the Greek word LEXIS, ("word") and THYMOS ("feelings"), and literally means "a lack of words for feelings".
Alexithymia has not been a well publicized issue and most professionals as well as non-professionals know little or nothing about it.
Alexithymia is not a disorder, but is seen as a trait. Some characteristics noted are:
*Difficulty identifying different types of feelings
*Difficulty distinguishing between emotional feelings and bodily feelings
* Limited understanding of what caused the feelings
* Difficulty verbalizing feelings
* Limited imagination
* Functional, constricted style of thinking
* Physical complaints
* Lack of enjoyment and pleasure-seeking
* Stiffened posture and/or facial expressions
Many individuals who have Alexithymia can sometimes find themselves doing counterproductive non-verbal activities to communicate their feelings. Activities like cutting, or breaking things, engaging in drinking or dabbling in drug use, for example. Learning to recognize feelings to productively verbalize and communicate is the goal here. And the goal is also to find productive non-verbal activities like art, exercise, and sports to allow for more meaningful experiences in life.
Alexithymia is not something to be afraid of. If you experience this, or know someone who does, there are ways to learn how to strengthen skills. Often a speech language therapist and/or a mental health professional can help to show you the way.
References:
Taylor, G. J., & Bagby, R. M. (2000) An overview of the alexithymia construct, in ed. R. Bar-On & J. D. A. Parker, The Handbook of Emotional Intelligence, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Inc., Ch.3, pp.41-67.
An instinct.
A given.
But, actually, there are many people who have trouble identifying their own feelings.
The clinical name for this is "Alexithymia" ~pronounced (Alex-ee-time-eeya) .
People who experience Alexithymia are unable to recognize their own emotions and their subtleties, to understand or describe these emotions, and they sometimes misunderstand the emotional experience of others.
Alexithymia was coined from the Greek word LEXIS, ("word") and THYMOS ("feelings"), and literally means "a lack of words for feelings".
Alexithymia has not been a well publicized issue and most professionals as well as non-professionals know little or nothing about it.
Alexithymia is not a disorder, but is seen as a trait. Some characteristics noted are:
*Difficulty identifying different types of feelings
*Difficulty distinguishing between emotional feelings and bodily feelings
* Limited understanding of what caused the feelings
* Difficulty verbalizing feelings
* Limited imagination
* Functional, constricted style of thinking
* Physical complaints
* Lack of enjoyment and pleasure-seeking
* Stiffened posture and/or facial expressions
Many individuals who have Alexithymia can sometimes find themselves doing counterproductive non-verbal activities to communicate their feelings. Activities like cutting, or breaking things, engaging in drinking or dabbling in drug use, for example. Learning to recognize feelings to productively verbalize and communicate is the goal here. And the goal is also to find productive non-verbal activities like art, exercise, and sports to allow for more meaningful experiences in life.
Alexithymia is not something to be afraid of. If you experience this, or know someone who does, there are ways to learn how to strengthen skills. Often a speech language therapist and/or a mental health professional can help to show you the way.
References:
Taylor, G. J., & Bagby, R. M. (2000) An overview of the alexithymia construct, in ed. R. Bar-On & J. D. A. Parker, The Handbook of Emotional Intelligence, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Inc., Ch.3, pp.41-67.
