I recently came across a disorder that I haven’t heard of before, and I thought I knew them all. It’s called “alexithymia” and people who have it have difficulty identifying or describing their emotions. It’s difficult to determine how many people might have it due to a lack of clear diagnostic criteria. While there are no known causes of alexithymia, research shows a strong relationship between it and aggression, depression and suicide.
The concept alexithymia comes from the field of psychosomatics, which studies physical disorders that are linked to emotional or mental health. Individuals who suffer from this disorder exhibit an inability to understand or describe their own feelings and emotions. It can be described as a sort of emotional dysregulation. Some people, when asked about their inner feelings, do not understand the word “feelings”.
In an article by Laura Hemming and her colleagues, two types of this disorder are described – primary and secondary alexithymia. Primary alexithymia is a dispositional factor, meaning it may be part of one’s personality or heredity. It may develop throughout childhood and early adulthood to become a stable personality trait.
Secondary alexithymia may be a defense mechanism that doesn’t necessarily develop throughout childhood, but instead arises during times of stress and/or trauma. In this way, alexithymia helps the individual to avoid feeling the unbearable emotional pain of the event or circumstance.
Clinical studies suggest that alexithymia is associated with depression, suicidal thoughts or behaviors, and aggression. It may be one of these problems that drives the individual to seek professional help. While there is no specific treatment for the disorder, a combination of therapy, medications, and self-help may improve symptoms and enhance quality of life.
Not much is known about alexithymia. Where does it come from? Who develops it? Is it a personality trait or a defense mechanism that people employ to avoid being emotionally hurt? Only time and a lot more research will tell.