Interoception is a sense that allows us to
What is                                  notice internal body signals like a growling
       INTEROCEPTION?
                                                            stomach, racing heart, tense muscles or full
                                                           bladder. When we notice these body signals
                                                          our brain uses them as clues to our emotions.
                                                       Interoception helps us to feel many important
                                                     emotions including:
              Hunger             Pain             Sleepiness           Anxiety        Calm
              Fullness         Illness         Need for Bathroom      Distraction   Boredom
               Thirst     Body Temperature           Anger               Focus      Sadness
Differences in Interoception
are very common and can lead to challenges in identifying exactly
how one feels. Common signs of interoception differences can
include difficulty with one or more of the following:
•   Recognizing when hungry, full or thirsty
•   Toilet training (daytime and/or night time)
•   Identifying when sleepy
•   Overly sensitive or not sensitive enough to pain
•   Pinpointing symptoms of illness
•   Identifying emotions in self
•   Identifying emotions in others
•   Recognizing building signs of distress (before a full meltdown)
•   Independently using coping strategies during times of distress
Can interoception be improved?
The good news is YES! Research shows that interoception can be improved. There are many easy
strategies that can be incorporated into your daily routines that can improve your child’s interoception.
Strategies
                                                                                For more
1) Use ‘Interoception Talk’: Label the way your various                     information and
   body parts feel during daily activities (e.g. “My hand feels           free resources visit
   warm when you hold it; My cheek feels wet when you
   kiss it; My breathing feels fast when I run with you.”).
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2) Encourage your child’s ‘Interoception Attention’:                For even more free information
   Encourage your child to notice how various body parts               join the Facebook Group
   feel during daily activities (e.g. “How do your hands feel               Interoception:
   when you are holding a glass of ice water?; How do your
                                                                         The Eighth Sensory
   eyes feel at bedtime?; Look at the goosebumps on your
   skin; Put your hand on your chest and feel your heart                        System
   beating fast.”).