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Interoception Therapy

Aug17^th 2024

Imagine you’re in the middle of a meeting, and suddenly, your stomach growls loudly. You feel embarrassed, but also confused—didn’t you just eat? What if you could understand these signals better and prevent such moments altogether? Welcome to the fascinating world of Interoception Therapy, where decoding your body’s hidden messages leads to a healthier, more balanced life!

What is Interoception and Interoception Therapy?

Interoception involves perceiving signals from inside the body, including heart rate, breathing, hunger, thirst, emotions, and other internal states; basically is the body’s ability to be aware of and react to physical and emotional sensations. Reactions to these sensations can be conscious or subconscious and are vital for human survival. This developmental process begins early, around age one, as infants start recognizing their movements and distinguishing themselves from their surroundings. As babies begin to notice their fingers wiggling in the distance, recognize themselves in the mirror, distinguish their voices from others, and explore bodily sensations such as touching their diaper during potty training, they refine these body awarenesses. Improving interoceptive skills can help with emotional awareness, self-regulation, and overall mental wellbeing. Good interoceptive awareness allows people to accurately identify and respond to their body’s needs and emotional states. On the other hand, poor interoceptive awareness is associated with difficulties in emotion regulation and various mental health issues like anxiety and/or depression.

Many healthcare providers often focus solely on treating the pain, yet it is crucial to identify the root cause to ensure the most effective treatment and care. Bodily pain is a symptom, which means there’s always a root cause. However, Interoception Therapy assists in tackling the root issue. Interoception Therapy focuses on improving awareness and understanding of these internal bodily sensations, such as heartbeat, breathing, and emotions. It helps individuals better recognize and respond to these signals, promoting emotional regulation and overall well-being. This therapy is particularly effective in various therapeutic interventions, enhancing outcomes in conditions where there is a disconnect in sensing and responding to internal cues, such as anxiety disorders, eating disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and chronic pain management.

In summary, interoception is increasingly recognized as an important target in therapy, with various approaches aiming to improve bodily awareness and the mind-body connection to support emotional wellbeing and self-regulation.

Interoception Techniques

Mindful awareness in body-oriented therapy (MABT) is an approach specifically designed to develop interoceptive awareness skills through a combination of psychoeducation and somatic techniques.

Body Scanning
- Mentally exploring the body to identify physical sensations without judgment.
  - For instance, they may notice the warmth of their hands, the tension in their neck, or the rhythmic beating of their heart.
  - This practice enhances interoceptive awareness and supports better emotional regulation by fostering a non-reactive awareness of bodily signals
Breathwork
- Engaging in diaphragmatic breathing with deliberate, deep inhalations and exhalations.
  - This practice is effective in calming the nervous system, managing anxiety, and promoting relaxation.
Biofeedback
- Utilizing devices that provide real-time feedback on physiological responses
  - For example, sensors measuring heart rate variability or muscle tension can illustrate how stress impacts the body. Better yet, just seeing the heartbeat slowing down with deep and loge exhalations
  - Learning to interpret and adjust these signals empowers individuals to regulate their responses, improving overall emotional and physical well-being.
Mindful Eating
- Individuals focus on the sensory experience of eating
  - Such as taste, texture, and hunger cues
  - By tuning into these internal signals during meals, individuals develop a healthier relationship with food and improve their ability to recognize hunger and fullness cues.

Interoception in Physical Therapy

Physical therapists (PTs) integrate Interoception Therapy into their practice by first assessing patients’ existing interoceptive awareness and educating them on the significance of recognizing internal bodily sensations such as heartbeat, breathing patterns, and muscle tension. The techniques mentioned previously are incorporated into exercises to deepen patients’ connection with their bodily cues, fostering relaxation and stress reduction. Throughout rehabilitation, PTs apply interoceptive awareness to functional activities and therapeutic exercises, encouraging patients to focus on their body’s signals to optimize movement and reduce injury risks.

For autistic individuals, assessing and addressing interoceptive abilities can be an important part of supporting mental health and emotional regulation

At Jeevam Therapy, interoception is crucial in our Schroth Method for treating scoliosis. Our personalized and patient-centered approach empowers individuals to actively participate in their recovery journey, promoting comprehensive improvements in physical rehabilitation and emotional well-being. Contact our Metuchen and Paramus, NJ offices today and learn about the next steps for you with screening at our clinics for a nominal fee!