Interoception can be defined as the sense that allows us to answer the question, “How do I Feel?” in any given moment.https://www.kelly-mahler.com/what-is-interoception/
Do you find that your child gets cranky really quickly? Do they have the “hangries” a lot? Sometimes still wet their pants? Cannot seem to tell you if they feel sick? This is all linked to interoception.
Interoception is an internal sense of being able to tell whether you are hot, cold, hungry, thirsty, need the bathroom or what emotions you are feeling. It also plays a roll in pain reception, as you cannot always tell exactly where pain in your body is coming from and it can cause you to be cranky for “no reason”.
In individuals with ADHD and AUTISM it can be very difficult for them to perceive the internal signals that the body is sending to the brain with regards to how they feel. So they may struggle to identify the need for the bathroom, feeling when they are hot or cold or when they are hungry or thirsty. These can all lead to meltdowns if not caught in time. The body is still telling the brain “hey, I’m cold”, but the brain is scrambling the message into “I’m feeling out of whack for no reason – panic!!!!”. As parents we can help our children to manage these internal signals, by being vigilant with the obvious signs. When it’s a cold day, ensure they understand to dress warmly because it is cold. Time bathroom breaks (very much the same as when you potty train a toddler), before going on a trip – everyone go to the bathroom! Hungry or thirsty? Have set meal and snack times. Children with ADHD or AUTISM will need more snack breaks, so have a mental time frame or a written schedule for meals, snacks and water or juice etc to drink.
In our home, my boys have their own water bottles, filled up each morning, this goes with them everywhere. To school, to outings, when we go on trips it’s in the car. Then I can see how much water or juice they have had to ensure adequate hydration during the day. Dehydration can cause nausea, confusion, brain fog, heart palpitations and because your child cannot sense where these physical feelings are coming from this can cause a meltdown.
The same goes with being hungry, when we travel, we have snacks in the car. Adequate lunch in their school bags, suppers and snacks throughout the day. I often miss the timing when I get deep into my work, and then the meltdown starts, I know to start with water, then a crunchy snack (carrot/celery/cucumber) to help distract the nervous system and add a bit of hydration from the fresh veg, then I bring a plate of food (safe foods only of course). This usually will help the meltdown, the nervous system starts to regulate to normal levels and the anxiety and stress is dissipated.
Emotions for a kid with ADHD and/or AUTISM is a difficult one. If the meltdown is caused by an overwhelming emotion, sometimes we need to just sit calmly alongside them and ask a few questions. I always see if I can see an immediate cause, then I ask – are you angry? are you sad? are you disappointed? are you worried? usually this leading will coax out the trouble and we can talk through the emotions and the cause, then it’s time for a cup of tea or water to help the nervous system re-set.
I cannot stress enough the value in “distracting” nervous system. I have discovered over the years that water is great for this. A wet cloth on the face (if they can stand it), a few sips of ice cold water or a crunchy vegetable. The temperature and texture change forces the nervous system to recognise the drastic change and it starts to regulate. Needless to say we have a ton of carrots/cucumber and celery in our fridge, and bottles and bottles of water on hand.
I really hope this information has helped you understand Interoception and it’s role in the ADHD and AUTISM life, and I trust that some of my remedies help you. If you have any great remedies let me know!
