Interoception: The Hidden Sense That Shapes Emotional Regulation

Hunger. Thirst. A racing heart. Butterflies in your stomach. These feelings come from your body, not the outside world — and the sense responsible for detecting them is called interoception.

Interoception is the ability to sense and interpret the internal state of your body. It answers the question: what is my body feeling right now?

Why interoception matters

Interoception is deeply linked to emotional regulation. Before you can manage an emotion, you have to notice it — and many emotions first show up as body sensations: tension in the shoulders, a pit in the stomach, a tight chest, shallow breathing.

For individuals with poor interoceptive awareness, emotions seem to "come out of nowhere" because the early body-based warning signals were missed. This can lead to explosive outbursts, emotional dysregulation, difficulty identifying feelings, and challenges with self-care tasks like recognizing hunger or fatigue.

Who struggles with interoception?

Interoceptive differences are common in:

• Autistic individuals
• People with ADHD
• Trauma survivors
• Individuals with anxiety or eating disorders
• Children who struggle with emotional outbursts

How OT addresses interoception

Occupational therapists trained in interoception use a structured, body-based approach to help clients:

• Notice and name body sensations
• Connect sensations to emotions and needs
• Respond to body signals before they escalate
• Build a richer "feelings vocabulary" rooted in physical experience

Kelly Mahler's Interoception Curriculum is one of the evidence-based frameworks our therapists use. It's gentle, self-paced, and never pushes clients beyond their comfort zone.

If you or your child struggles with emotional regulation and you haven't explored interoception, it may be the missing piece. Reach out to schedule a free consultation.