Why Do Individuals with Autism Find It Hard to Express Feelings Abstractly?

PostedDecember 13, 2025

UpdatedDecember 13, 2025

ByMy Patient Advice

Author: Hannah Smith, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Many autistic people find it difficult to express emotions using abstract or metaphorical language. According to NHS guidance, this is partly because autism affects how people process language and emotional awareness. Many autistic individuals think and communicate in concrete, factual ways, which can make it harder to describe emotions such as love, guilt, or pride in more symbolic or emotional terms.

The Role of Alexithymia and Literal Thinking

Research shows that alexithymia, or difficulty recognising and describing one’s own emotions, is highly common in autism. The National Autistic Society explains that around half of autistic people experience alexithymia, which affects their ability to label or talk about complex feelings. Similarly, Autistica reports that alexithymia can increase anxiety and make emotional regulation more difficult.

According to NICE guidance (CG142), structured therapies such as CBT, emotion-recognition programmes, and speech and language therapy can support people who struggle to identify and express emotions. These interventions teach practical emotional vocabulary and improve confidence in expressing feelings both verbally and nonverbally.

What the Research Shows

Recent studies have identified biological and cognitive reasons behind this difficulty. A 2025 PubMed study found that autistic adults with alexithymia show differences in emotional awareness and language processing, which limit abstract emotional expression. Another 2025 study in Frontiers in Psychiatry highlighted that even when autistic people understand emotions conceptually, abstract verbal expression may remain limited due to atypical neural patterns and a preference for concrete thinking.

The WHO ICD-11 also recognises that autism involves differences in emotional reciprocity and expression, particularly for complex or nuanced emotions.

Building Emotional Understanding

Supportive approaches focus on bridging the gap between concrete and abstract thinking. Visual tools, emotion cards, and social stories can help link physical sensations and experiences with emotional language. Therapies such as CBT, speech and language support, and mindfulness-based emotion training can help autistic individuals recognise and articulate emotions more effectively.

These evidence-based strategies, recommended by NICE and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, are shown to improve both emotional recognition and expressive confidence.

If you are seeking support with emotional communication or diagnosis, Autism Detect offers private autism assessments for adults and children, along with aftercare focused on emotional awareness and communication development.

Takeaway

Autistic individuals often find it challenging to express emotions abstractly because of differences in language processing and emotional awareness, often linked to alexithymia. With structured support such as CBT, speech and language therapy, and emotion-recognition training, it is possible to build stronger emotional insight and more confident self-expression.

Hannah Smith, MSc

Author

Hannah Smith is a clinical psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and over three years of experience in behaviour therapy, special education, and inclusive practices. She specialises in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and inclusive education strategies. Hannah has worked extensively with children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, Down syndrome, and intellectual disabilities, delivering evidence-based interventions to support development, mental health, and well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy.

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Reviewer

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy.