Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello fellow autistic people!
I found this brilliant, accurate and thought provoking description of alexithymia on social media (Instagram)!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CovdEQysj00/?igshid=MWQ1ZGUxMzBkMA==
If you can’t access Instagram, here is the description:
’I have a theory about this term. What if it’s not that I don’t know what I’m feeling, it’s that I don’t know how to tell you. What if I feel it in such an extreme, primal and indescribable way that spoken language fails to encompass it? And instead of allowing to feel deeply you have pathologised my unique emotional experience?’
I completely relate to this, I feel emotions very intensely and it’s one of the things I love about being autistic! I particularly like how the description states that spoken language is insufficient to describe the depth of emotion we feel. This is why stimming is our natural means of communication and so cool.
Do you relate this description of alexithymia? What do you think about your autistic experience of emotions?
I usually know if the feeling is positive or negative and to what degree that is. I can't figure the name of it and can't express it. I have poor awareness of the feelings in my body (working on it in therapy). I know that I'm incredibly sensitive tho, I notice feelings changing in response to the slightest stimulation from inside or outside of me. I also don't know how to help myself to feel better when I'm feeling negative. I think for me it's a bit more than just not knowing how to say it although it's part of it
I have poor awareness of the feelings in my body (working on it in therapy).
So you struggle with interoception ? Interoception is one of your sensory systems and describes the ability to detect and respond to the internal state of your body including emotions, pain, hunger, thirst and the need for the toilet.
I hope therapy helps you with this.
These links below may help you find ways to improve interoception and thus express your emotions:
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/interoception-wellbeing#:~:text=Internal%20supports%20and%20activities%20improve,for%20at%20least%208%20weeks.
Videos about interoception:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXTC2Uqaw5-0lh46oXp0BWIHQOXDdL1vU
I know that I'm incredibly sensitive tho, I notice feelings changing in response to the slightest stimulation from inside or outside of me. I
So am I, I definitely understand what you mean. I take in everything around me even without meaning to. I sometimes describe myself as a human sponge because I am hyper empathetic and take on other people’s emotions too.
I know that I have a hard time figuring hunger and thirst. I realise them when things get very bad. I guess childhood trauma played ots role in disconnecting ne from my body.. all together made me so unaware of what I'm sensing. Also includes awareness of feeling cold or overheated even though I'm very sensitive to temperatures, it still takes me time before it comes to my awareness that I'm not comfortable with the temperature that I'm experiencing. Thank you for the recourses!! I'll check them