Why Naming My Emotions Feels Like a Struggle
When many of us experience stress, we can instinctively identify the emotion due to how it affects our feelings.
However, when Dr. Krysia Waldock finds herself struggling, it might take a little more time for understanding to click.
That's because they are among the largest. 10% of the population that experiences alexithymia.
The term alexithymia comes from the Greek language and essentially means "lack of words for feelings."
Individuals who encounter this less-known phenomenon may struggle with articulating their feelings, identifying their emotional states, and distinguishing between various emotions.
"As far as I'm concerned, quite often it's about finding out how I truly feel," stated Dr. Waldock.
Something will occur, and I’ll sense an emotion, yet I won’t be sure what it is. It might take some time for me to identify exactly what I’m experiencing, assuming I ever do.
Recognizing stress can pose quite a challenge.
"When I experience stress or anxiety, sometimes I notice physical symptoms like tension in my jaw. Other times, I might bump into objects or fumble with items without really understanding why,” they explained.
It will either require an extremely lengthy period of time for me to assemble it or I simply won’t be able to piece it together at all.
Dr. Waldock, who prefers they/them pronouns, identifies as autistic. Studies indicate that autistic individuals may be up to five times more prone to experiencing alexithymia than the broader populace.
"As per my autism and neurodiversity, this is how I experience it," they explained.
Alexithymia is strongly associated with interoception, the capacity to recognize and categorize bodily sensations like hunger, fatigue, or the urge to use the restroom.
Dr. Waldock mentioned that sometimes they don’t feel hungry signals, so eating at specific times ensures they won’t skip any meals.
Dr. Waldock serves as a research assistant at Swansea University and is presently engaged in a study focused on gaining deeper insights into the reproductive health experiences of autistic individuals across different stages of their lives.
Their fellow team member, the project's research officer Dr Rebecca Ellis, likewise lives with both autism and alexithymia.
Dr. Ellis mentioned that the experience of alexithymia varies from one individual to another and is particularly prevalent among those who have anxiety and depression.
She mentioned that some individuals have inherently possessed alexithymia, while others develop it due to traumatic experiences.
She mentioned that she found it difficult to distinguish between feelings of anxiety and excitement.
"As both of these experiences can be rather alike and equally discomforting," she explained.
Why would I get on a roller coaster when all I'd do is sit there feeling anxious?
She similarly struggles to discern whether she feels uneasy or enthusiastic about something.
She chuckled, saying, 'That’s a huge mess for me.'
Even though it’s a delightful social gathering I’m anticipating… I often feel somewhat optimistic yet slightly apprehensive about it.
Dr. Ellis and Dr. Waldock have both discovered methods to work around their alexithymia.
Dr. Ellis suggested that posing inquiries to others regarding their ability to recognize their own emotions might prove beneficial.
She mentioned that it's something you can improve upon with practice.
You can gain insight into your emotions and sensations.
Doctor Waldock employs an application named How We Feel, which presents various emotions along with their definitions to assist individuals in pinpointing their current emotional state.
They both concurred that receiving a non-judgmental alert from their loved ones when they noticed changes in behavior could prove helpful.
Why is the existence of a term like alexithymia beneficial when there aren't established diagnostic criteria for it?
As per Dr. Ellis, 'I believe this enables you to treat yourself with more kindness,'.
Having that terminology doesn’t just mean multiple individuals beyond yourself encounter it; it also implies that both you and those around you gain a clearer understanding of it as well.
Dr Waldock agreed.
“As I began understanding what it means to be autistic, including aspects such as alexithymia, it has truly assisted me in gaining deeper insight into who I am,” they stated.
As a child, I often felt like the odd one out, but nowadays I’ve ceased exerting effort to fit into inappropriate situations as frequently.
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