INTEROCEPTION:
What it is and how to support interoceptive awareness
Interoception is being aware of and understanding the sensations and feelings in our body.
For example, recognising our body's signals that we are: hot or cold, hungry or full, need to go to the toilet, feel unwell or pain.
POOR INTEROCEPTION
Poor interoceptive awareness, or not being able to clearly notice the body's signals, can occur for a variety of reasons. It is often observed in neurodivergent individuals, individuals with anxiety, or those affected by trauma. For those with poor interoception, body signals may be unclear as the signals are too big, too small or distorted.
IMPACT OF POOR INTEROCEPTION
Interoception is an important sense for self-regulation. By noticing our body's sensations, we are able to make meaning of them and connect them to an emotion (e.g, hungry, needing to go to the toilet, anxious). Without making this meaning of the sensations in our body, we may be unable to regulate them by taking action in a timely or appropriate manner (e.g. eating, toileting, seeking comfort).
Poor interoceptive awareness can impact many other everyday life and social skills, such as identifying the emotions of self and others, communication, problem-solving and self-management.
HOW TO SUPPORT INTEROCEPTIVE AWARENESS
Mindfulness is one of the most effective ways to support interoceptive awareness. You can practise mindfulness with your child through:
Breathing exercises
Yoga or other stretching exercises
Stories, comic books and video clips as discussion points
Exercise followed by body check ins
Whole body muscle tensing and relaxation
Mindful eating or listening activities
Mapping feelings and sensations on a body outline
TIPS FOR SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD
Be positive
Punishment or discipline, especially around issues such as toileting, can increase the child's anxiety and make the situation worse
Be light-hearted, caring and even fun in your approach to discussing any challenges presented by your child's interoceptive awareness
Be child-led
Every child is unique, and will require different time-frames and support to develop their ability to recognise and make meaning of their body's signals
Make sure your child is ready to talk or practise, even adults can't learn when overwhelmed! Make sure your child is calm and ready
It is likely that the child may feel as frustrated as you at times, your patience can teach them to be kind to themselves too
Children will generally require co-regulation and repetition before they are able to self-regulate effectively
Use everyday language that makes sense to them
Be a model
Model to your child the process involved in interoceptive awareness:
Notice and name the sensations in your own body
Link them to a feeling
Verbalise the thinking and planning that goes into managing this feeling
Identify the action you are taking to manage the feeling
Support and develop their vocabulary around sensations and feeling
Play Therapy may help to develop self-regulation and in turn interoceptive awareness, contact us to book in an appointment.