Alexithymia affects nearly 10% of the world’s population, but this emotional expression disorder remains relatively unknown to the general public.
Alexithymia is an emotional regulation disorder and results in difficulty in identifying and verbally expressing emotions, whether joy, sadness, fear, or anger. However, they are present.
Generally, people who suffer from this pathology present physiological and behavioral symptoms. Among them, there is in particular the sweatingrapid heartbeat, stomach cramps, or even muscle tension.
The patient tends to rationalize his every action, and to lack emotional empathy. Often, alexithymia, which affects about 10% of the world’s population, pushes him to isolate himself, to limit his social interactions. Psychotherapy sessions can be useful for learning to put words to one’s ailments, and to become aware of them.
Introduced in 1972 by two psychiatrists, John Case Nemiah and Peter Sifneos, this phenomenon can be linked to a major emotional shock, especially occurring during childhood, to a depressive episode, or even to a addictionor an eating disorder.
People with a neurological condition, such as autism or Parkinson’s disease, are also likely to be alexithymic.
