Alexitimia: the inability to say "I love you"
The Alexitimia it is a neurological disorder that causes the inability to control and recognize one's emotions and, consequently, makes the emotional expression of the person suffering this affectation impossible .
What is alexithymia?
Not all individuals suffering from alexithymia have the same degree of affectation, since according to experts there are two types: primary alexithymia, more severe and as a consequence of a brain injury caused, for example, by multiple sclerosis or a stroke; and the secondary alexithymia, due to a emotional trauma suffered or bad emotional learning.
The symptoms of alexithymia can also be seen in patients with Parkinson's, during the first stage of the disease's development, and in the majority of individuals suffering from autism.
Statistics indicate that alexithymia affects 8% of men and 1.8% of women. In addition, 30% of people affected with psychological disorders and 85% of people with autism suffer from this disorder.
History and construct
Alexithymia was first named as a psychological construct in 1972 by Peter E. Sifneos, and It was seen as a Emotional awareness deficit . Studies indicate that this pathology has two dimensions: a cognitive one, when the person has problems identifying, interpreting and verbalizing feelings and emotions; and an affective dimension, when there are difficulties to react, express, feel and imagine emotionally (that is, have emotional experiences).
As already mentioned, alexithymia is associated with several psychological disorders, such as autism, depression or schizophrenia. Coexistence with other psychological pathologies complicates the recovery of the patient.
symptom
Regarding Alexitimia, it is important to know that does not appear in the DMS (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). In any case, it can be defined by the following psychological, cognitive and behavioral characteristics:
- Difficulty to verbalize emotions, recognize them and use them as internal signals.
- Difficulty locating the sensations of one's own body.
- Tendency to use action as a coping strategy in conflict situations.
- Concrete thinking, devoid of symbols and abstractions.
- Rigidity in preverbal communication, with scant mimicry and few body movements.
Types of alexitimia
Researchers and experts in this pathology differentiate two types of alexithymia:
1. Primary Alexithymia
Have a biological origin , since neurologists claim that there is a neurological deficit that interferes in the communication between the limbic system (manages emotions) and the neocortex (our rational brain), or there is a deficiency in communication between the left hemisphere (it is responsible for of the production of language) and the law (regulates emotions).
This type of alexithymia can have a hereditary origin (with a beginning in childhood) or it can be due to some neurological disease: multiple sclerosis, stroke, parkinson, etc.
2. Secondary Alexithymia
This type of alexithymia arises due to some traumatic experience that an individual may have suffered , both in childhood and in adulthood. Its symptoms can be explained as part of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in victims of kidnappings, rapes or armed conflicts. But secondary alexithymia can also be caused by a depressive disorder, substance addiction, eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia) or poor emotional education.
Treatment and therapy
The beginning of the treatment of the patient with alexithymia requires their own motivation or that of someone close to them. If there is no such first request (of the subject or of a relative or friend), it will be difficult to specify the treatment. Regarding this, It is rarely the patient who seeks help due to ignorance or poor awareness of the problem .
Family support is necessary for this type of patients, since the treatment will be effective if working from three sources: the application of appropriate drugs (in the case of primary alexithymia), psychotherapy and a planned life strategy. In this last source, the support of family members is especially important.
Regarding psychotherapy, it is necessary to distinguish between primary and secondary alexithymia, since therapies oriented towards self-knowledge and emotional management are likely to only work with patients with secondary alexithymia.
Bibliographic references:
- Rieffe, C., Villanueva, L., Adrián, J.E. and Górriz, A.B. (2009). Somatic complaints, moods and emotional awareness in adolescents. Psicothema, 21 (3), 459-464
- Swiller, H.I. (1988).Alexithymia: treatment utilizing combined individual and group psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 38 (1), 47-61.
