All living beings, no matter how rough their consciences, show clear signs of emotion. Thanks to this, they can socialize and react to stimuli, however, not everyone has the same capacity to demonstrate. So, find out the meaning of alexithymia and understand the phenomenon better with some examples.

Table of Contents

• What is Alexithymia?
• Measures
• Alexithymia Characteristics
  • 1. empathetic absence
  • 2. difficulty making relationships last
  • 3. very impoverished creativity
• Examples of Alexithic, i.e., Alexithic Person
  • 1. discussion
  • 2. the loss of someone
• Consequences and Symptoms of Alexithymia
  • 1. in Relationships
  • 2. in the Profession
• Treatment of Alexithymia
  • A Special Invitation: Psychoanalysis Online Course

What is Alexithymia?

A alexithymia is shown as the inability of an individual to describe and identify emotions In simple terms, it is as if someone has emotional blindness, a blindfold to the emotions. Even though he has them and feels their effects, he is unable to unravel the complex emotional path. It was Peter Sifnios who propagated the term in 1973 in the Psychology and Psychoanalysis environment.

The essence of the phenomenon is much more common than it seems. At some point, someone has asked us how we have been doing and if everything is okay. By education, we conclude an insecure thought by saying "yes," but we can't go any further. The answer, although positive, is far from being seen as a certainty .

We can distinguish between the phenomenon of alexithymia and these random difficulties because the former is a constant condition A specialist, such as a psychologist, will evaluate in the consultation the predominance of this syndrome. The biggest proof is the permanent difficulty of not detecting one's own feelings or emotions.

Measures

Due to its complexity, the early studies and articles on alexithymia had their quality challenged. The measures initially achieved provoked discomfort in the scientific community such as the study done by Schalling Sifneos Personality Scale According to reports, the data presented caused poor reliability and invalidated the study.

After years, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale With a replicable model, it concluded on four factors: difficulty perceiving feelings, difficulty describing them, reduced daydreaming, and externally oriented thoughts .

After further reviews, a list of 20 objects was created for observation and study. Thanks to this, they achieved more precision, also eliminating the points that studied the individual's imaginary activity .

Alexithymia Characteristics

Just like its name, the inherent symptoms of alexithymia are quite unique. Not unique enough, Besides denouncing dysfunction, they also serve as a thermometer for other diseases. Check out the most common ones:

1. empathetic absence

If we cannot identify our own emotions, how will we be able to evaluate those of others? Note that this is not a choice, but rather a natural inability. Understanding the suffering of others proves to be a barrier to be reached by an alexithymic individual. He will have the impression that these emotional objects are trivial or even irrelevant.

In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), narcissistic disorder is defined as "a diffuse pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, which arises in early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts." Lack of Empathy indicates the inability to put oneself in another's shoes and acknowledge one's feelings,Fears and aspirations. It can be an indicative factor of Alexithymia.

2. difficulty making relationships last

A relationship is heated by the feelings and emotions that you put into it. When one party cannot do this, it is almost impossible to move on. The impression that the partner has is of a distant and very narcissistic individual on the sentimental side As a consequence, the alexithymic person does not fructify his contacts.

3. very impoverished creativity

Our creativity is driven by emotion. Because of emotion, we are able to take imaginary flights far away to complete an idea or project. An alexithymic person also shows difficulty in imagining many realities It is as if she doesn't have the fuel that allows her to dream.

Examples of Alexithic, i.e., Alexithic Person

In order for you to better understand the situation, I ask you to evaluate the following examples. At first, alexithymia was seen as a disorder that created physical symptoms exaggerated by the mind. In a practical way, we can understand how connections are built in these individuals. Even if a situation seems quite obvious to us, they feel that they are facing an internal labyrinth:

1. discussion

An alexithymic individual can get involved in conflicts, given his disturbed emotional incapacity. Out of discomfort, he feels anger, but cannot express it. As a consequence, he ends up feeling a pain in his stomach. Unable to express himself adequately, he raises a frame of body complaints .

2. the loss of someone

For all of us losing someone we love will always be a hard blow. For the alexithymic, it will be even more complicated to understand the turmoil that hits them. Instead of processing his sadness or loneliness, he may describe a headache or tiredness He feels drained, but can't describe anything beyond that.

Consequences and Symptoms of Alexithymia

1. in Relationships

Since we are creatures driven by emotions and feelings, how can one relate in this state? With a step back, the alexithymic keeps his relationships on a superficial level Any trace of affection is brittle, without structure. As a result, any emotional signal is returned unbalanced and rather vague.

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Thus, an individual with the dysfunction ends up developing family disorders. Without the necessary background and understanding to catalog and imprint feelings, it connects little with other people As the syndrome can develop in adulthood, a marriage can come to ruins, for example. The necessary exchange between the parties is quite unbalanced.

2. in the Profession

Your professional life can also enter a journey of decline. Without the necessary understanding of the emotional charge to make choices, we are unable to decide what is best in the moment. Even if some deny it, the emotional side also weighs when we take some attitudes and decide new paths.

It seems absurd not to be able to identify emotions, but it is quite real. Alexithymia works as an eraser to an inherent and deep aspect of our existences As a result, an internal struggle begins, where our dysfunction and essence try to argue about opposing views. As a result, one gets confused with the very channel that irrigates one's emotional presence.

Treatment of Alexithymia

Still, it should be noted that alexithymia is treatable. A strategic therapy provided by the psychologist can "train" the individual to identify emotionally In a conscious and safe way, he will learn to express his emotions, reestablishing the social contact that is rightfully his.

This comes from childhood, for example. When we observe the communication between adults, we assimilate quickly what we are feeling with the figures that are presented to us If we have a sad expression and we are asked why we are sad, we can connect the emotion to the stimulus. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy, for example, rescues this connection, integrating a fundamental part of us.

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