Why can't I explain how I feel?

Alexithymia is when an individual has difficulty identifying, describing, and expressing emotions. This term was coined by Peter Sifneos in 1972, and it comes from the roots of Greek words that literally mean, “lack of words for emotion.”


Why do I cry when I try to talk about my feelings?

When a person is feeling emotional, the cerebrum (the front part of the brain) registers that emotion and a hormone is triggered causing emotional type tears to form.

Is emotional detachment a disorder?

Emotional detachment isn't an official condition like bipolar disorder or depression. Instead, it's often considered one element of a larger medical condition. Conditions might include personality disorders or attachment disorders. Emotional detachment could also be the result of acute trauma or abuse.


What happens when you don't talk about your feelings?

Pretending you don't have certain feelings might help you avoid expressing them publicly , but it doesn't make them go away. In fact, holding back your emotions can actually intensify them. A classic example of this involves anger. Many people believe it's better to tamp down anger than express it.

What does it mean to be emotionally numb?

Apathy and a general sense of disconnection may be signs of emotional numbness, but they don't necessarily mean you're incapable of emotion. Being emotionally numb means your emotional experience is lower than expected, dampened, or completely missing.


What if I Can't Tell What I'm Feeling? (Alexithymia)



Why am I so emotionally unavailable?

What Causes Emotional Unavailability? While there is no one explanation for emotional unavailability, it can be caused by a number (or combination) of factors. These include attachment styles developed in childhood, history in relationships, trauma, mental health conditions, and one's circumstances and priorities.

Why am I so emotionless and empty?

Feeling emotionless can often be a symptom of mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic disorder so it's not something to dismiss or downplay. In these cases, seeking the help of a professional is crucial. So remember you don't have to work through this alone.

Why can't I put my emotions into words?

Alexithymia is when an individual has difficulty identifying, describing, and expressing emotions. This term was coined by Peter Sifneos in 1972, and it comes from the roots of Greek words that literally mean, “lack of words for emotion.”


What happens if you hold in your emotions too long?

A 2021 study conducted in Italy during the first wave of lockdowns showed that when we regulate or ignore our emotions, we can experience short-term mental and physical reactions as well. “Suppressing your emotions, whether it's anger, sadness, grief or frustration, can lead to physical stress on your body.

What is a person who hides their feelings called?

Stoic is a term for someone who can handle pain and hardship without showing one's feelings or complaining.

Why can't I feel love or empathy?

Parents, teachers, peers, society, and culture affect how people feel about kindness, empathy, compassion, and helping behaviors. Some conditions may play a role in a lack of empathy such as narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), antisocial personality disorder, and borderline personality disorder (BPD).


Why don t I feel connected to anyone?

A Word From Verywell

Negative social experiences and overreliance on social media can make it more difficult to feel emotionally linked to other people. Sometimes a lack of connection might be related to the presence of a mental health condition such as anxiety or depression.

Is detachment a symptom of bipolar?

However, when feelings of low mood start to kick in, you may feel detached from others, and try to isolate yourself from the world for no obvious reason. You may find it hard to get on with your day-to-day tasks, often feel hopeless and sleep too much or too little.

Why can't I say how I feel without crying?

Crying is a normal response to deep emotion. When we are hurt, frustrated, or angry, it's common to get teary-eyed and experience that familiar lump in the throat, making it difficult to talk. Crying can convey to others how deeply we feel or that we need extra care, which can be helpful.


Is crying a trauma response?

We often will feel sad and cry after a highly traumatic event. The crying can be a way for the nervous system to come down from the fight-or-flight response, since crying is associated with the parasympathetic nervous system which calms the mind and body.

What is the feeling called when you want to cry but can t?

You don't just experience diminished pleasure. You might also notice a decreased capacity to express your emotions. Some people with anhedonia, especially anhedonic depression, do notice they can no longer cry easily — or at all.

When emotional pain is too much?

If you're feeling life is painful at the moment, it's highly advisable that you reach out to a mental health professional, or contact a crisis line and similar resources. Once you've reached out, you may also want to try some of these techniques to help you find relief from your emotional pain.


Do introverts bottle up emotions?

Introverts on the other hand are not the type of individuals who would want to impose on another and they often stuff or bottle their emotions and troubles inside. Often these troubles build and they end up coming out much later. One sad thing that stems from this is an inability to trust like that of the extrovert.

How long is an emotion supposed to last?

“Feelings are like ocean waves,” says psychologist Alyson Stone, “they rise, crest and recede, all day long.” We can all relate. But according to brain scientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, these waves last just 90 seconds. After that, we're simply re-stimulating our internal circuitry.

How do you unlock trapped emotions?

Here are a few ways to release repressed emotions:
  1. acknowledging your feelings.
  2. working through trauma.
  3. trying shadow work.
  4. making intentional movement.
  5. practicing stillness.


Do psychopaths have feelings?

Summary: Contrary to popular belief, those suffering from psychopathy are able to experience emotions, but they do have a blunted emotional response if their attention is directed toward something else.

How to become more expressive?

Expressing Your Emotions in a Healthy Way: 16 Tips
  1. Use positive self-talk. ...
  2. Be a good listener. ...
  3. Try spirituality. ...
  4. Teach emotion words to young children. ...
  5. Practice empathy. ...
  6. Model emotional expression. ...
  7. Forgive. ...
  8. Practice acceptance.


How do I stop being cold hearted?

Here's what I've learnt so far, though it's still a work in progress.
  1. Keep your own negative emotions in check. Someone says something kinda dumb. ...
  2. Put yourself in their shoes. ...
  3. Address the emotion before the reason. ...
  4. Share your own feelings. ...
  5. No more 'But's.


Why do I feel like I don't care about anything?

Sometimes, apathetic feelings are a result of things we can recognize and change—for example, we're feeling bored at work or we're no longer attracted to someone we once felt attracted to. But sometimes apathy is a symptom of a larger issue we're facing, like trauma, grief, or an underlying mental health condition.

How do I let myself feel again?

We talk more about these methods below.
  1. Move your body. Emotional numbness may feel like being “frozen” for some people. ...
  2. Talk it out. ...
  3. Try grounding exercises. ...
  4. Release pent-up anger. ...
  5. Learn about emotions.