Alexithymia: 1 in 10 people affected by emotional blindness

Around 10% of people worldwide live with alexithymia, a condition that makes it difficult to recognize, understand, and express emotions. This trait, considered a personality characteristic rather than a mental illness, affects how individuals perceive their own feelings and those of others.

People with alexithymia often experience physical sensations like a racing heart, tension, or chest pressure when they feel something strongly, but they struggle to label these feelings. They might respond to inquiries about their well-being with vague answers like "It's okay" or "I don't know," rather than specific emotional states.

This difficulty in verbalizing emotions can lead to avoiding conversations about feelings, not out of unwillingness, but due to a lack of words. While they may only understand their emotional state hours after an event, individuals with alexithymia are capable of love and forming deep connections, as the condition is not synonymous with being emotionless.