Interoception is a sense that supports the body’s innate ability to monitor internal signals and respond accordingly. These body signals help us to sense hunger, thirst, body temperature, sleepiness, and even affective emotional states such as joy, anxiety or depression. Interoception provides us with a constant dialogue between our body and brain, a feedback loop that keeps us in tune with the physical and emotional needs of our body.
Despite its crucial role, interoception often does not often get recognition in discussions about mental health. Yet, it’s this very brain-body connection that can offer precious insights into our mental well-being. Interoception and mental health are so strongly linked—we can’t effectively support mental health challenges without the help and understanding of interoception.
