I am recently recognising that I have difficulties in identifying emotions. I feel them... but my initial recognition of emotion is usually pre-verbal. I have found myself describing feelings as "bleugh" and "uuuugghhh!" initially, and though I can find the words for them, it takes me a lot of thinking to try to find the right word. The emotions that I find easy to recognise are the obvious feelings like terror, and I only recognise that by physical sensation otherwise I'm confused!

The fact that I can only get at emotions by writing, journalling, and thinking a lot makes me wonder if others have to spend so much time just identifying what they are feeling too...

The psychological term for this difficulty is Alexithymia.

Anyone struggle similarly like this? Research suggests a high rate of those with PTSD suffer with recognising emotions specifically (up to 40% from what I have read), and I am wondering if those here on this forum feel this and reflect the research?

Thanks!