“My Brain Doesn’t Speak That Language:” An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Alexithymia in Autistic Women

Abstract

Alexithymia is a trait characterized by difficulty identifying and describing one’s emotions, as well as reduced attention to one’s emotional state. Alexithymia is widely viewed as a transdiagnostic risk factor and an important target for treatment. This has led to a robust quantitative research literature. However, missing from contemporary research are first-person accounts of alexithymia. In the present study, we interviewed six high-alexithymia autistic women, seeking to illuminate unexplored aspects of the trait. Our results illustrate a diverse spectrum of alexithymic experiences beyond those captured in closed-ended questionnaires. Participants struggled to name their emotions, distinguish emotions from physiological sensations, and determine whether they experienced emotion at all. Often, participants only understood their feelings in retrospect. Finally, social judgment exacerbated the challenges of living with alexithymia. This study highlights the diversity of alexithymia and thereby helps lay the foundation for understanding how alexithymia relates to other affective processes.