Abstract
Alexithymia, an inability to express one's feelings, has been associated with chemical dependence and recovery. It poses limitations on one's emotional and cognitive expression, which may have negative effects on interpersonal relationships, self-awareness, and one's ability to develop sufficient self-soothing responses to cope with stress. This article is presented to assist nurses who work with individuals who are chemically dependent to identify alexithymia and to suggest some possible beneficial nursing interventions.