Interoception: Understanding Hunger, Thirst, Fullness and Body Awareness - Part 1 of 2
Interoception is the sense that helps us notice and understand what is happening inside the body. It plays an important role in recognising hunger, fullness, thirst, temperature, pain, tiredness, the need to use the toilet and the physical sensations connected with emotions.
For many autistic people, people with ADHD and individuals with ARFID, these internal messages may be faint, delayed, intense or difficult to interpret. Someone may not realise they are hungry until they feel shaky, may forget to drink until a headache develops, or may only recognise anxiety once it has become overwhelming. These experiences are not laziness, poor motivation or a lack of self-control; they reflect differences in how the nervous system receives and interprets information.
This supportive guide explains what interoception is, how the body and brain communicate, and why hunger, fullness and thirst do not always feel obvious. It also explores the connection between interoception and emotions, the ways interoception can differ in autism, and why routines, reminders and external support can be helpful.
Maggie includes a personal reflection on discovering interoception and understanding her own experiences of working through the day without noticing hunger. The guide encourages readers to replace self-criticism with curiosity and begin asking: “What might my body be trying to tell me?”
Inside this guide:
- What interoception means and why it is sometimes called the eighth sense
- Common internal body signals
- How hunger can appear as irritability, brain fog, shakiness or low energy
- Why fullness and thirst may be difficult to recognise
- The relationship between body sensations and emotions
- Interoceptive differences in autism, ADHD and ARFID
- A gentle, pressure-free body check-in
- A supportive message from Maggie
This resource is designed for people who experience confusing or delayed body signals, as well as parents, partners, carers, therapists and professionals who want to understand those experiences more clearly.
Contributor: Maggie Learoyd MNCPS
Psychotherapist | ADHD, Autism & ARFID Specialist
Space to Breathe Therapy
Educational information only. This resource does not replace individual medical, nutritional or mental-health advice.
