Definition
Alexithymia describes difficulty identifying and describing one's own emotions. People with alexithymia may not know what they are feeling, may experience emotions primarily as physical sensations, or may have a limited emotional vocabulary.
Why It Matters
A 2019 meta-analysis of 15 studies found alexithymia in about half of autistic participants (49.93 percent), compared with 4.89 percent of non-autistic participants. It affects emotional regulation, self-care, and relationships. It is not the same as not having emotions, it is difficulty recognizing them.
Common Misconception
Alexithymia is not the same as being unemotional or lacking empathy. Many people with alexithymia feel emotions intensely but cannot label or communicate them clearly.