Interoception is the sense that allows individuals to notice internal body signals like a growling stomach, racing heart, tense muscles or full bladder.

When individuals notice these body signals, our brain uses them as clues to our emotions.
Interoception helps individuals to feel many important emotions, including hunger, pain, anxiety, calm, illness, boredom, anger, focus, and sadness.

Differences in interoception are very common and can lead to challenges in identifying exactly how someone feels. Common signs of interoception differences can include difficulty with one or more of the following:

• Recognising when hungry, full or thirsty
• Identifying when sleepy
• Overly sensitive or not sensitive enough to pain
• Pinpointing symptoms of illness
• Identifying emotions in self
• Identifying emotions in others
• Recognising signs of distress (before a full meltdown)
• Independently being able to use coping strategies during times of distress

By recognising our internal body signals and connecting them to the emotion we are feeling, it is then possible to decide on a strategy to help us cope with that particular emotion (if it is overwhelming). Therefore, individuals need to be able to recognise our body signals and emotions to enable them to identify appropriate strategies. Strategies are not successful if individuals are unsure when they need to use them.

Interoceptive awareness enables individuals to regulate and better understand their emotions.

By completing an interoception awareness assessment, we can explore your understanding of others’ emotions, as well as your understanding of your own emotions. This will include how you experience emotions physically and mentally and how you cope with intense emotions. Through discussion and interpretation of this assessment, you and your Occupational Therapist can find suitable strategies to help you manage better in your daily life.