Somatization and difficulty identifying feelings

I have some problems with somatization and not being able to identify my feelings very well (like alexithymia). Apparently the two often go together, and I suppose that makes sense. I'm trying to become more emotionally aware, but am finding it difficult. I tend to work out how I feel by thinking about how I behaved after the event e.g. I didn't want to get out of bed yesterday, therefore I must have been feeling sad or depressed. My psych says I'm doing things in the wrong order, but I'm not sure how else to do it. I don't think I know how to identify feelings in the present.

I think I'm also confused about the idea that some bodily symptoms aren't real or aren't a symptom of being sick. I hate the idea of my body lying to me. That makes me less inclined to try to listen to it to work out how I'm feeling.

This section of the forum seems pretty quiet, but it would be good to talk to someone who can relate to any of this.

hello
I have had somatization disorder for over a year now and like you I have been told by my psych my thinking is all wrong and that my priorities need to be sorted out, I need to put myself first! This is easy to say but putting all the talk into action is stupidly hard. Its really hard to open up suddenly and everything that you have consciously blocked now to make you better you have to talk about. I have never had any psych issues before but now due to somatization I twitch all the time and now my hands claws for hours at a time. I suffer from non epileptic seizures due to the disorder and believe me non of this is, is in any of my control even though all these websites say different. I like you get a sick and fatigue feeling alot and have had this since I was a child but no source found.I take regular medication and have been in and out of hospitals, finding a good psych really helped me even though that wasn't my first reactions about seeing a psych. The meds control the headaches and vision issues, and sounds stupid but actually being really emotionally helps me .For example being angry and expressing it or being sad and really crying. Otherwise its as everyone says quite 'rare' disorder and not many people/doctors know much about it!

I hope feeling not alone helps!