Interoception – Understanding What’s Inside

Young girl standing in front of a tree drinking from a water bottle

Imagine being at the park. You are sitting at a picnic table, reading. You notice you are starting to get too hot, so you move into the shade. This triggers you to realize you are thirsty so you drink some cold water you brought with you. An hour later, you sense you have to use the bathroom.

You get up and find a bathroom to use. After, you realize you are feeling tired, and it is getting late in the day and you need to prepare dinner. You go home to eat dinner and then head to bed.

ALL of this was because your body was able to sense what it needed. The internal cues of your body were recognized, processed, and found a solution- that’s interoception!

The interoceptive system guides our body in maintaining balance, also known as homeostasis.

It’s also compared to the mind-body connection. It’s understanding what your body needs, and how best to respond to meet it. This processing includes:

  • Hunger
  • Digestion
  • Thirst
  • Sleep
  • Body temperature
  • Bowel movements

Many children with difficulties processing sensory input are unable to understand what their bodies need.

These children can have difficulty with many aspects of their everyday life including potty training, regulating their emotions, sleep, and hunger. This can cause them to be dysregulated and have difficulty engaging.

Samantha Stiles, MS, OTR/L 

CEO, Occupational Therapist

As a pediatric therapist I know what it takes to really address feeding, sensory, and emotional challenges in children. I’m talking the kind of exponential growth that changes the course of lives. But this type of transformation requires time, parent involvement, and extra guidance.

When parents arrive inside the world of Empower Kids Therapy, they find a fresh spark of hope, a different way of thinking, and a sense of being understood.

little girl eating a bowl of something at the table

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Ms.Sam - Pediatric Occupational Therapist

In-home occupational therapy services focused on sensory processing, feeding & infant development
📍 Orlando, FL

Would a calm down corner work in your home? What tools do you think your child would respond to best? Let me know in the comments!

#SensoryParenting #NeurodivergentSupport #FamilyEducation #EmpowerKidsTherapy #SPDawareness #SensoryNeedsExplained #ParentingWithPurpose #GentleParentingTools #AutismAcceptance #RegulationNotDiscipline #UnderstandingSensoryKids #ParentingNeurodivergentKids #SupportNotStigma #SensoryProcessingAwareness #FamilySupportMatters #otforfamilies
Summer is almost halfway over and you might already be thinking about the school year ahead. For all our anxious moms, here’s our go-to guide for those IEP meetings we know you’re dreading! 

As always, we’re open to come with you! Don’t hesitate to reach out to Sam or Tiffany 💚

What’s your biggest challenge when advocating for your child? Drop it in the comments below!

#SensoryParenting #NeurodivergentSupport #FamilyEducation #EmpowerKidsTherapy #SPDawareness #SensoryNeedsExplained #ParentingWithPurpose #GentleParentingTools #AutismAcceptance #RegulationNotDiscipline #UnderstandingSensoryKids #ParentingNeurodivergentKids #SupportNotStigma #SensoryProcessingAwareness #FamilySupportMatters #otforfamilies
What specific family situation is most challenging for you? Let me know in the comments!

#SensoryParenting #NeurodivergentSupport #FamilyEducation #EmpowerKidsTherapy #SPDawareness #SensoryNeedsExplained #ParentingWithPurpose #GentleParentingTools #AutismAcceptance #RegulationNotDiscipline #UnderstandingSensoryKids #ParentingNeurodivergentKids #SupportNotStigma #SensoryProcessingAwareness #FamilySupportMatters #otforfamilies
This is such a common challenge! Characters are simultaneously fascinating and terrifying to many kids with sensory or anxiety challenges. It’s an endless cycle unless you come prepared! 

I’m so grateful to Disney cast members and the characters at the park. They are known to be so gentle and graceful with our sensory friends! Take Thomas for example! 

What character does your child most want to meet? Let me know in the comments!

#SensoryParenting #DisneyWithKids #UniversalWithKids #OrlandoFamilies #SensoryProcessingSupport #AutismAtDisney #SensoryFriendlyDisney #UniversalForAll #NeurodivergentKids #AccessibleThemeParks #SPDawareness #SensoryStrategies #SpecialNeedsParenting #DisneyTipsForParents #UniversalStudiosTips #SupportForParents #orlandowithkids

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