Do they know how they feel?

Guest post:

Alexithymic individuals (males more than females) cannot express their feelings verbally. They either act them out (destructively) or hold them in (intrapunitive and equally destructive).

These alexithymic individuals are more prone to develop somatic symptom (formerly somatoform) disorders (excess focus upon bodily complaints). They are also more prone to psychophysiologic – physical – destruction arising from psychological) disorders.

Although a challenge, it is possible to psychologically examine these patients and analyze this pervasive pattern of inability to healthily express emotions.

Family members will often refer the person having this problem. For many of these patients, their bodily focus will decrease when they have the opportunity to discover what they truly feel and how to appropriately deal with these feelings.