Interoception: how do I feel?

Interoception: how do I feel?, by Cynthia Kim (Musings of an Aspie blog). “Interoception describes our sensitivity to sensations that originate in our bodies. Think pain, temperature, itch, sensual touch, sensations from our organs and muscles, hunger, thirst, and breathlessness. Interoceptive feedback is important for keeping our bodies in good working condition. Think of them as the body’s dashboard. Many autistic people have dampened or muted interoception. We just don’t seem to notice what’s going on in our bodies until it reaches a level that other people would find intolerable. And often when we do notice it, it goes from “oh that’s happening” to intolerable really darn fast. Interoceptive sensations–especially pain–may be unreliable indicators in autistic individuals. When you combine muted interoception with poor executive function–which may be further impaired by the stress of illness–you’ve got a recipe for disaster.”