**Alexithymia is a lack of emotional self-awareness.** It has two dimensions:

* [Affective](https://www.reddit.com/r/Alexithymia/wiki/index#wiki_affective): experiencing and fantasising
* [Cognitive](https://www.reddit.com/r/Alexithymia/wiki/index#wiki_cognitive): identifying, analysing, and verbalising

Alexithymia is generally a personality trait from birth ("trait") but can also be temporarily brought about by poor mental health or trauma ("state"). In either case it is considered sub-clinical (i.e. [not an illness or disorder](https://www.reddit.com/r/Alexithymia/wiki/index#wiki_it.27s_not_an_illness.21)) by scientists. Everyone's experience is as unique as they are.

#Links

* [Take the online Alexithymia test](https://www.alexi.info/alexithymia-questionnaire-online-test)
* [What is it like to have never felt an emotion?](http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150818-what-is-it-like-to-have-never-felt-an-emotion)
* [Wikipedia's article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexithymia)
* AMAs: [1](https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/9xea8/i_am_unable_to_feel_most_emotion_i_have/), [2](https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/sqgre/i_dont_feel_emotions_i_have_alexithymia_ama/), [3](https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/95ayc/i_have_alexithymia_iama/)

# Our Wiki

* [Introduction](https://www.reddit.com/r/Alexithymia/wiki/index)
* [Alexithymia in the Media](https://www.reddit.com/r/Alexithymia/wiki/alexithymia_media)

Alexithymia is a lack of emotional self-awareness. It has two broad dimensions: "affective" (difficulty experiencing feelings) and "cognitive" (difficulty identifying feelings). Around 10% of people fall into one or both of these categories.