What is Interoception? (3 min video)

Ever wonder why taking a deep breath helps you relax? A big reason is interoception--the ability to sense inside your body.

The way we interpret our inner signals is important. If we can feel ourselves slowing down, our brain senses that things are safe. If we hyperfocus on our heart rate and breath speeding up, it can reinforce danger and reinforce anxiety. If we're not aware of our signals at all, we can feel numb.

We can pay attention inside and learn what safety feels like for us, in a physical sense. Stress-controlling interventions like breathing exercises and meditation can be more effective because we would be able to feel when they work.

This fun video from the Embodied Philosophy Channel illustrates how interoception works in our bodies.

Warm regards,

-Mariya