Alexithymia is a difficulty identifying and describing feelings and emotions. People who score high on 'alexithymia' measurements have trouble identifying their emotional state. They often don't experience them as specific states such as "I am hungry" but more general like "I feel negative". High levels of Alexithymia have been associated with problematic alcohol and drug use. Potentially, if a person experiences their emotional state as a vague state the actions that could resolve it could also be less clear. This could make someone more susceptible to use alcohol and drugs to regulate their emotions.

In this project we are studying whether Alexithymia also forms a potential risk factor for problematic use of Benzodiazepines. Additionally we will be measuring whether levels of recent stress, anxiety and / or depression leads individuals who score higher on Alexithymia to use more Benzodiazepines.

There are no direct benefits to completing this survey, however, it is hoped that any individuals participation in this study will provide data that will contribute to the understanding of problematic benzodiazepine use and could be used to develop helpful treatment strategies for people who may experience problematic benzodiazepine use and alexithymia.

https://exe.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bxVyWJqZUx2e9pA