The Burning of Alexithymia

The Library of Alexandria was one of the most significant and largest libraries in the ancient world, dedicated to the arts and scholarship.Though it is contested what led to the incident, or how many times it occurred, the Royal Library of Alexandria was eventually completely destroyed by 391 AD. So much knowledge and beauty was lost in these burnings. So many stories to tell, lost forever.

For those unaware of what Alexithymia is, I will define the medical condition simply. Derived from the greek, the word translated means no words for emotions. (A=lack, lexis=word, thymos=emotions). To my understanding, in the psychiatric world it is a construct rather than a diagnosis to characterize patients who appear unable to express their thoughts and emotions, and are thus unable to describe what they feel to others. When a Patient has no story to tell.

Maybe I have Alexithymia, maybe not; though I read that about 10% of the general pop has it. it is more about the concept. As mentioned in my first post “To breathe Aether”, I have always felt unable to express myself, which has often led me to not try. This blog is my attempt at Burning my Alexithymia.

But the phrase is paradoxical, for it implies the reference of the Burning of the Library of Alexandria. The Library was a wealth of achievement from men and women, authors taking their thoughts, emotions, and knowledge, and with this aether from the clouds of their mind they transferred it to the physical realm upon ink and paper. However, ultimately, for unknown reasons, these writings were eventually lost to fire.

The paradoxical phrase is a two sided coin. By revealing the truths of our mind, do we inevitably destroy them? By bringing perfect concepts to reality, do we then burn them to the ground? By sharing with other people what is truly within our heart and mind, do we lose the unspoken connection we have with them? 

I do not know the answer. 

But either way, here is my Alexandria.