Autism and Interoception

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on interception for me and if they can relate to my experiences.

I can often tell when I'm hungry (and it's usually sudden) but I can't tell when I'm full until I stand up from eating and then feel absolutely awfully full. I will often get the urge to pee desperately but then just forget and then my body will remind me a couple of hours later that I still need to pee, by which time l'll need to run to the bathroom before I wet myself. I usually hold my pee for hours. I'm not really sure what the feeling of thirst is for most, but for me it feels like a headache, dry lips and sore throat. I often forget to drink for hours. For example yesterday I woke up and knew that I felt dehydrated, but didn't have a drink for 2 hours.

Generally, I will feel my bodies signals but then l ignore them and they go away then when they come back they're urgent and I feel unwell. This particularly happens when I'm hyper focused.

Does anyone share my experiences?

Parents
  • I don't know if this is the same thing, but I never know if I'm thirsty unless it's causing me a migraine, and I can never tell if I need the toilet or my stomach is just being nervously reactive. There is no discernable difference

Reply
  • I don't know if this is the same thing, but I never know if I'm thirsty unless it's causing me a migraine, and I can never tell if I need the toilet or my stomach is just being nervously reactive. There is no discernable difference

Children
  • sounds like it! i also often cant tell between sickness and hunger. people think im odd because i say i feel sick and then go and eat to try and feel better