Ep 10: Understanding Alexithymia—Exploring the Complexities of Emotion | Divergent Conversations

Picture the immense amount of energy invested in analyzing your emotional responses to every social interaction, striving to decipher not only your own feelings but also how the other person perceived the conversation. Or imagine navigating through life with a constant undercurrent of irritability and anxiety, yet lacking a clear understanding of their origin.

These experiences only represent a small fraction of what people with alexithymia may experience.

Alexithymia, which in simple terms is difficulty identifying and describing emotions, is a trait that is often associated with autism and ADHD, however despite the fact that one-in-ten people in the general population have this trait (not just Autistic people), there are still many misconceptions about what it is, who it really impacts, and how it shapes their experiences and relationships.

Dr. Megan Anna  Neff, an AuDHD psychologist with alexithymia, states that a lot of things that have been attributed to autism, for example, difficulty with emotion recognition on faces or voice, are actually due to alexithymia, not autism. 

In this episode of Divergent Conversations, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, talk with guest, Thomas Henley, an Autism consultant, public speaker, workplace trainer, and podcast host of “Thoughty Auti Podcast”, about all things alexithymia.

𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟯 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲:
1. Understand what alexithymia is, how is it related to autism and ADHD, and some common attributes associated with autism that are strongly linked to alexithymia.
2. Identify the ways that alexithymia affects emotional regulation and the ability to connect with others on a deep emotional level.
3. Learn what strategies and therapeutic approaches individuals with alexithymia can use to help facilitate emotional regulation and deeper connections with others.

Alexithymia affects many individuals in the general population, so taking the time to recognize and understand the traits, challenges, and experiences associated with alexithymia, can help facilitate deeper connections with others, self-acceptance, and healthy ways to manage overwhelming emotions and situations.

𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗺𝗶𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘆:

My name is Thomas Henley, I’m an Autism consultant, public speaker and workplace trainer running the Worlds Top podcast ‘Thoughty Auti Podcast’, all about Autism & Mental Health - independently presented, edited and promoted by my Autistic self.

I’m also a Commonwealth/British champion in Taekwondo, Biomedical Sciences (Hons) graduate from UoM, Autistic Model, documentary creator of ‘Aspergers In Society’ & ambassador for Anna Kennedy OBE & Born Anxious.

I was diagnosed Autistic at 10 years old and later developed severe mental health conditions at the age of 14 due to trauma at Secondary School - Clinical Depression, GAD, Bulimia & multiple Dissociative disorders.

Most of my content focuses around the low quality-of-life statistics for autistic people, such as mental health, social isolation, unemployment, education, relationship difficulties & self-harm in all forms. I’ve delivered this information to the government, leaders in SEN education, and the general public through my outreach and social media work.

My passion is to help people, it’s my meaning to life, my saviour for helping me stay around. My ultimate goal is to improve things for future generations who may just experience the same awful things I have. 

My content is informed from many angles. During my time at university, I also studied and researched into Autism, Mental Health, Sociology, Psychology, Socialising, Relationships & Philosophy. I also used to be Special Needs TA, I work alongside charities regularly, talk to researchers, Autistic influencers, authors & parents regularly on my podcast, and currently work full-time for a National Inclusion charity.

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀’ 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁:

----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------

[tracirex]

yes, it was a cohesive meaningful conversation

[mayaholligan]

This was such a great conversation, thank you. When you were sharing about how you would go away and interpret/analyse the conversation afterwards in all those different ways it reminded me so much of how I think & how I exhaust myself!!

[shawn]

I’m 57 and in the process of coming out of the alexithymia awareness “fog”. Looking back on my life with elexithymia I now able to recognize how it made me very vulnerable in a “forest gump” kinda way (hope that makes sense lol). While at the same time confusing and frustrating others :(. My ignorance is now changing into knowledge, and your sharing is so helpful and life changing. What a breath of fresh air :) Thank you from the bottom of my heart.