How Interoception Affects Women with ADHD: Understanding Body Awareness

In this week’s episode, we’re diving into a fascinating and often overlooked area of ADHD: interoception. This is our ability to sense and interpret internal bodily signals like hunger, heartbeat, or emotional shifts. Understanding interoception is key to emotional regulation, self-awareness, and reconnecting with our bodies, especially for women with ADHD.

I’m joined by Caroline Williams, a science journalist and author, whose new book, Inner Sense, brings the emerging science of interoception to a mainstream audience. Caroline has written for The Times, The Telegraph, and The Guardian, and is a former feature editor at New Scientist. She’s also the author of Override and Move!, the latter named a New Scientist Book of the Year.

My new book, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit, is OUT NOW!

What You'll Learn:

• What interoception is, and how it differs from exteroception and proprioception
• Why those with ADHD often struggle to regulate internal signals
• How tuning into bodily cues helps with decision-making, intuition, and reducing stress
• Caroline’s motivation for writing her book
• The role of the vagus nerve in interoception
• How affective touch (like gentle stroking) supports calming and connection
• How hypermobility may impact interoception and sensory regulation
• Why ADHD brains and bodies can respond more strongly to stress, and how this links to RSD (Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria)
• How to find compassion for your needs and gently support yourself through dysregulation
• The emerging conversation around GLP-1 medications, fullness, and potential ADHD applications
• Tools to strengthen interoception: body scans, exercise awareness, reminder apps, floatation tanks, and more.

Timestamps:

• 02:41 - Understanding The Science Behind Interoception
• 10:19 - Exploring Interoception and Its Impact on Mental Health
• 14:07 - The Importance of Interoception in Therapy
• 24:26 - Understanding The Difference Interoception Can Make
• 26:50 - Understanding Heart Sensitivity and Anxiety
• 34:33 - The Role of Interoception and Appetite Regulation
• 39:22 - The Impact of Interoception on Body Awareness
• 46:36 - The Power of Compassion when Navigating Neurodivergence

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or deep into your ADHD journey, this episode offers empowering insights into how listening to your body can become a powerful part of your emotional wellbeing.

Links and Resources:

• Order my book, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit
• Join the Waitlist for my new ADHD community-first membership launching in September! Get exclusive founding offers [here].
• Find my popular ADHD webinars and resources on my website [here].
• Follow the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_pod
• Follow Caroline on Instagram: @carolinewilliams_science

Kate Moryoussef is a women's ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach and EFT practitioner who helps overwhelmed and unfulfilled newly diagnosed ADHD women find more calm, balance, hope, health, compassion, creativity and clarity.