Interoception
Understanding Hunger, Thirst, Fullness and Body Awareness - Part 1 of 2
Have you ever become so absorbed in something that hours passed before you realised you had not eaten or had a drink? Perhaps you only notice hunger when you feel shaky, or recognise thirst after a headache has already begun.
These experiences are closely connected to interoception, the sense that helps us notice and understand what is happening inside our bodies.
In this first article of a two-part series, I explore how interoception affects hunger, thirst, fullness, pain, tiredness, toileting, emotion and body awareness. I explain why these internal signals may feel quiet, intense, delayed or difficult to identify, particularly for some autistic people, people with ADHD and individuals with ARFID.
This subject is personal to me. For years, I could work through an entire day without eating and only recognise hunger when I became shaky or light-headed. At other times, I knew something felt different but could not tell whether I was hungry, tired, anxious or overwhelmed.
Learning about interoception gave me language for experiences I had previously blamed myself for. I now see the same relief in many of the people I support. Understanding that body awareness is a neurological process can replace self-criticism with curiosity.
I hope this resource helps you recognise that missing or misreading a body signal is not laziness, poor motivation or a lack of self-control. Sometimes the message simply needs more time, attention or external support to become clear.
With warmth,
Maggie
Psychotherapist | ADHD, Autism & ARFID Specialist
Space to Breathe Therapy
