Interoception - The sixth sense

Sixth sense... eigth sense? At least we have established that interoception is known by many as a sense, just like taste, touch, sight, smell and hearing.

Interoception is the internal sensation we experience from our external environment. With sharpened interoceptive understanding and language we can begin to become aware of where in the body the sensation is coming from and what it might be trying to communicate. This process begins in the nerve receptors within the organs or myofascia. These nerves detect information from an external source and the central nervous system sends the information to the Thalamus, inside the brain. Emotional processing then continues inside the brain and in doing so combines the information with various systems of the body to produce a subjective perception of ones internal state. The brain then sends signals to the body to 'meet the response', for an example "oh hey, you're hot, here is some sweat to cool you down. You're welcome" This is understood as the process of Interoception. One of my main goals I have in our workshops is to teach children to pay attention to the signals their bodies are sending... and trust them. This is not a one size fits all approach, but if targeted during moments of joy and inclusion my hope of connecting them to their internal landscape can lock in. From this place, repitition and language will support them to continue the journey.

Our ability to access the internal signals, process and elicit a response is complex and impacted by trauma and genetic predisposition, including neuro-diversity. This means folk working with Adhd, Audhd even PTSD have to work really hard at processing this data and producing a reasonable response to meet the need of their body. It might take longer or require certain systems to be less activated so that they can access the information and decide what to do about it. The information could be perceived as triggering or overwhelming so therefore becomes an area to approach with time and special consideration. There are many studies to indicate that interoception is a simple yet highly effective skill that can be improved over time. In my experience offering opportunities through environmental learning during states of regulation is key in bringing awareness to homeostasis. To target this area of learning in our workshops we have chosen to use an evidence based framework created by an international Occupational Therapist. The framework includes 3 stages, and can be adapted to suit different ages and learning styles. Informed adults using and modelling the language around children can begin as early as birth.

I really hope you have enjoyed my blog on Interoception today, you might even feel compelled to further research and bring more interoception awareness into your day. Either way I am a big fan and speak personally when I say it was a game changer. Love.

When interoceptive signals are reliable, by serving to achieve and maintain homeostasis and support overall health and wellness, interoceptive experience establishes a felt sense of safety (Price and Hooven, 2018)

Schmitt CM, Schoen S. Interoception: A Multi-Sensory Foundation of Participation in Daily Life. Front Neurosci. 2022 Jun 9;16:875200. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.875200. PMID: 35757546; PMCID: PMC9220286.