I Really Don’t Feel Anything…..

Defining Alexithymia: "No Words for Emotions"

Some people genuinely do not feel emotions, or at least struggle to express them. They may feel as though they have no internal story to tell. The diagnostic term for this is alexithymia, which comes from the Greek a- (no), lexis (words), and thymos (emotions). It is more common in men than women and affects approximately one in ten people.

People with alexithymia often experience:

• Difficulty identifying different types of feelings.

• Trouble distinguishing between emotions and bodily sensations.

• A limited ability to communicate feelings to others.

• An externally oriented, logical thinking style.

  
  

What Causes Alexithymia?

There is no single cause for alexithymia. Its origins can be biological, psychological, or a combination of both. A useful analogy is to think of emotional expression as water flowing through a hose.

Neurological and Biological Factors

In some cases, the issue is a naturally depressed nervous system arousal. The emotional "source" is very low, so not much can come out of the hose. This can be associated with:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Brain injury, particularly to the parts of the brain that process emotion.

• Genetic predisposition, as all mammals have a range of response thresholds for the fight-or-flight system.

  
  

Psychological Factors

In other cases, the emotional urge is there, but it doesn’t get translated into words or awareness by higher brain systems. Here, the hose has a "kink" in it that diminishes the flow. The feelings are effectively repressed. Common psychological causes include:

• Trauma, especially during early development.

• Depression.

• A childhood environment that discouraged the expression of feelings.

• A diminished capacity to recognize and identify somatic body experiences (e.g., a racing heart).

  
  

How Is Alexithymia Treated or Managed?

While there are no standard, one-size-fits-all treatments for alexithymia, the goal of any intervention is to help the person build a stronger connection between their inner world and their conscious mind. Helpful strategies include:

• Talk Therapy: Discussing examples of "not feeling anything" can trigger associations, helping the person learn to identify a feeling when it arises.

• Mindfulness and Meditation: By passively "watching" their thoughts, individuals can become more aware of the subtle emotional content that they previously missed.

• Focusing on Bodily Sensations: Paying attention to somatic experiences—such as stomach cramps, muscle tension, or a racing heart—provides a tangible way to identify and acknowledge emotional arousal that is working its way through the body.

  
  

By attending to these cognitive and somatic clues, a person can gradually learn to recognize and, eventually, put words to their emotional experiences.