21/10/2023
I've been getting over being sick and feeling a little cooped up, but I've also been enjoying feeling cozy at home.
It's given me the opportunity to return to my thoughts around interoception, or the internal felt sense. Interoception has a lot of definitions, but one way to think of it is the sensations deeper than our skin - internal rather than external stimuli and experiences.
It includes sensations such as your heartbeat, breath, hunger, thirst, digestion, and urge to eliminate.
It also encompasses experiences like the release in a good stretch, a hip with a dull ache, lightheadedness, or a feeling of smooth movement in a joint.
Interoceptive sensations can be things we enjoy, don't enjoy, or that we feel neutral about. They also can be information about areas of our bodies that could return to homeostasis, or balance. They may be an invitation to various actions or activities, such as intentional rest, eating a meal, helpful movement, or, my favorite, a massage.
For years I've been working on a list of interoceptive words, and much like I've used a feelings wheel to explore my emotions, I've used my interoceptive list to more deeply explore my body awareness.
I can't fit my whole list here, but here's a sampling.
Ache
Aligned
Awake
Balanced
Bendy
Charged
Clammy
Clear
Closed
Compressed
Cramp
Dizzy
Elastic
Expansive
Fatigue
Foggy
Grinding
Heavy
Irritated
Loose
Nauseated
Numb
Pinching
Relaxed
Sensitive
Smooth
Stiff
Tight
Warm
Do any of these sensations resonate with you today? Are there any that you would add to the list?
