What is Alexithymia, which prevents understanding of its personal feelings? | EUROtoday

OAlready are inclined to suppose that we perceive our feelings slightly properly. However, utilizing sure measuring devices (Toronto scales), it’s estimated that between 17 and 23 % of the inhabitants encounter main difficulties in figuring out and expressing their emotional states. This is named Alexithymia. Despite its frequency, this peculiarity stays unknown to most of the people, though it will probably negatively have an effect on psychological well being, interpersonal relationships and, extra typically, the standard of lifetime of the individuals involved.

Note that, so far, Alexithymia shouldn’t be thought-about a illness. It shouldn’t be talked about within the final version of Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)the handbook of the American Psychiatric Association which classifies psychological pathologies, nor within the International Classification of Diseases (CIM-11) of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Primary or secondary Alexithymia

The time period “Alexithymia”, derived from Greek A (with out), Lexis (phrase) and thymos (temper, emotion), means “absence of words for emotions”. It was launched within the Seventies by the psychiatrist Peter Sifneos. He designates a set of difficulties in figuring out, describing and treating his personal feelings. To illustrate this, think about that you’re requested to explain a colour that you’ve by no means seen: it’s a state of affairs intently near the expertise lived by an Alexithymic particular person after they attempt to clarify what they really feel.

Read too What if robots handle to know our feelings? Research reveals that alexithymia is linked to specificities in mind functioning, particularly in areas concerned in emotional remedy and self -awareness, such because the anterior insula and the prefrontal cortex. Studies by Neuro-Imaging have revealed lowered connectivity between these areas in Alexithymic individuals, which may characterize a monitor to clarify, partly, their problem in figuring out and treating feelings.

Two forms of alexithymia are primarily recognized. Primary Alexithymia is taken into account a steady character trait. Genetic or neurobiological and developmental elements appear to play a significant position. Secondary Alexithymia, alternatively, seems following trauma, psychological stress, diseases or psychological well being issues resembling melancholy. It develops later in life and impacts emotional remedy beforehand intact.

Alexithymia thus represents both a major issue of character which circumstances a response unsuitable for stress, or a secondary issue with irritating conditions, during which case it has a extra defensive worth. In any case, this emotional disconnection can have an effect on interpersonal relationships.

It could be troublesome for an alexithymic particular person to emotionally help a beloved one even when she doesn’t perceive her personal emotions. However, not understanding your feelings doesn’t essentially imply that one is alexitymic and that doesn’t systematically have repercussions on bodily or psychopathological well being.

Emotions which can be troublesome to verbalize

The individuals involved know that feelings exist, however they discover it troublesome to discern or specific them. Rather than describing particular feelings resembling unhappiness, pleasure or anger, they usually converse of common discomfort or really feel out of step, with out figuring out why. Sometimes they even really feel bodily signs linked to those misunderstood feelings. Because even when they battle to verbalize their feelings, the Alexithymic individuals really feel them. These unrecognized feelings may end up in bodily signs resembling headache, abdomen ache or fatigue – a phenomenon known as somatization.

Indeed, when feelings can’t be expressed by phrases, they usually manifest within the physique, by unknowns or roughly localized ache. Moreover, some research have proven that alexithymia is a vulnerability issue that impacts common well being, promotes melancholy, nervousness, and will represent a danger issue for alcohol -dependence for instance.

An thought is to suppose that alexithymia is equal to an absence of emotional heat. The difficulties encountered on the emotional stage represent two elements of Alexithymia (the primary is linked to the identification of feelings, the second is linked to their description), each related to a 3rd part (the operational thought open to the surface). The latter corresponds to a mind-set turned in the direction of the operational slightly than the emotional.

Although the individuals involved could seem indifferent, it’s not a deliberate selection. Alexithymia is a cognitive problem which makes recognition and expression of feelings intrinsically advanced. These people don’t deliberately keep away from their feelings, their brains deal with them in another way. If analysis on the involvement of the mind in Alexithymia has been in a position to result in contradictory outcomes, latest meta-analyzes consolidate the speculation of a neurobiological foundation of Alexithymia.

In its secondary design, it may even represent an unconscious protection mechanism, used to alleviate detrimental and painful feelings and/or to thwart the problematic penalties of sure stress elements.

Group or particular person remedy, valuable assist

Although Alexithymia is mostly not healed since it’s not a illness however a character trait, in the identical approach because the hypersensitivity with which it’s related, there are methods to stay higher with. Among the work on the topic, some research level out that psychotherapy, particularly expertise -based therapies, reveals promising outcomes. These therapies assist people to acknowledge their feelings by specializing in their bodily sensations and observable behaviors.

Read too Even feelings have a narrativeIn addition, group or particular person therapies can educate Alexithymic individuals to look at their inner states with out judgment, steadily serving to them to make the hyperlink between their bodily sensations and their feelings. Research continues on different therapeutic approaches.

Other research are serious about therapies much less centered on verbal expression, resembling artwork remedy or music remedy. These approaches may supply Alexithymic individuals a approach of higher exploring and understanding their feelings, releasing themselves from the typically intimidating aspect of conventional therapies.

Better understanding Alexithymia, its causes and its penalties, is a step in the direction of a extra inclusive and nuanced imaginative and prescient of emotional range. If the feelings are common, our way of life them and expressing them may be very particular person. Recognizing these variations makes it potential to create benevolent and supporting environments for individuals who battle to keep in touch with their feelings.

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Answer

Awareness of Alexithymia may assist to raised perceive the distinctive challenges that this attribute implies, particularly in interpersonal relationships, and making an attempt to determine its origin would higher perceive its results.

* Alizée Richalley, doctoral scholar in growth psychology, University of Tours; Jimmy Bordarie, physician, lecturer, University of Tours; Caroline Giraudeau, college professor in growth psychology, University of Tours.