Trauma and Interoception: Overcoming the Struggle to Sense Your Inner Self

Interoception is the ability to sense internal signals from your body, such as "Am I hungry?", "Am I too cold or too hot?", and even the more nuanced "How do I feel right now?". In today's world, where we are constantly bombarded with external stimuli from phones, the internet, and demanding work schedules, developing our interoceptive skills can become increasingly challenging.

Research shows that individuals struggling with PTSD or trauma face even greater difficulties in reading their body's signals. This can impact their ability to recognize and respond to their internal needs effectively.

Bessel van der Kolk, MD, a leading expert on trauma, wrote: “Trauma comes back as a reaction, not a memory”. Trauma is believed to be stored in the brain as sensory fragments rather than a cohesive 'story'. The brain reconstructs these experiences based on our five senses: smell, sight, sound, touch, and taste. These senses are crucial for interoception, the internal awareness of bodily signals, which can play a vital role in healing trauma.

During a traumatic experience, the limbic system, responsible for emotional responses, is activated to protect us. Some research shows that this triggers the body's 'Survival Mode' or Fight or Flight response. Concurrently, the prefrontal cortex, the 'rational' brain, works to shield us from distressing memories or events. This protective mechanism can numb our awareness of the body's internal signals, making it harder to process and heal from trauma.

Interoception training and somatic healing are proving to be highly effective methods for those dealing with trauma. Pat Ogden, PhD, is well-known for developing Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, a body-oriented approach to help patients process traumatic memories and manage threat responses. This therapy was influenced by Pat’s training in Gestalt Therapy, mindfulness practices, and the Hakomi method. Some experts believe that we can re-train ourselves to become aware of our bodies without triggering the Fight or Flight response. By checking in with ourselves in a safe environment, we build resilience and learn to approach our body's signals with curiosity and openness. Over time, this fosters a deeper connection to our internal experiences and supports healing.

Written by Kelsi Gallagher