Interoception is the ability to notice and identify feelings inside one’s body, like thirst or hunger. It also includes the ability to notice and regulate temperature changes or notice pain.
Many neurodivergent individuals, especially autistic folks have difficulty with interception, for example, they only notice hunger, thirst or the need for a bathroom break when it has become a very strong feeling and needs urgent action.
Interoceptive struggles could also explain the phenomenon of people not noticing they’ve hurt themselves when it happened, only a bit or much later.
Related terms
alexithymia
Alexithymia is the inability to assign names to feelings, describe them to others or talk about them. It is considered a separate neuropsychological condition but has significant overlaps with autism.
emotional regulation
Emotional dysregulation refers to difficulty in effectively managing and controlling one’s emotions. It is characterized by intense, unpredictable, or seemingly disproportionate emotional responses that may be challenging to regulate or modulate.
When someone has difficulty regulating their emotions, they are easily overstimulated and they can get upset or overwhelmed easily. On the other hand, they can also have trouble with calming down, relaxing, or decompressing and it takes much effort to regulate their mood.
Emotional dysregulation can also lead to sleep difficulties. Creating helpful routines, focusing on self-compassion, and giving yourself space for unmasking and stimming can help with this process.
hyposensitivity
Hyposensitivity, also known as sensory underresponsivity, is a condition characterized by a reduced sensitivity or diminished response to sensory stimuli from the environment.
Individuals with hyposensitivity may have difficulty with detecting or processing sensory inputs, such as sound, touch, taste, smell, or visual stimuli. They may require more intense or prolonged sensory stimulation to register and respond to the sensation.
