A Spotlight on Interoception

A Community-Based Pilot Education Program Connecting Patterns of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Nervous System Regulation

Project Purpose

To advance postpartum women’s health by conducting RRB-approved research that deepens community awareness and perceptions of the relationship between pelvic floor dysfunction and nervous system dysregulation, and to evaluate the impact of a community-based, sensory-focused educational workshop designed to support attunement, modulation, and regulation of interoceptive processing to improve symptoms and overall well-being.

To learn more about the methods used for this project, navigate to the tab titled, "Methodology"

What is Interoception?

Interoception is the brain’s ability to detect and interpret internal bodily signals in order to maintain physical and emotional balance. It functions as a fundamental, internal—often unconscious—feedback system that allows us to notice sensations such as hunger, thirst, heartbeat, temperature, and pain, while also connecting these sensations to emotional experiences.

Interoception supports regulation of the body, guides behavior, and plays a central role in self-regulation. Although it begins developing early in life, interoceptive awareness is a skill that can be learned, strengthened, and refined across the lifespan.

Nervous System Dysregulation

A dysregulated nervous system occurs when the autonomic nervous system’s sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) branches fall out of balance. This imbalance can keep the body in a prolonged state of high alert, anxiety, or burnout. Common symptoms include anxiety, panic attacks, chronic fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues, and emotional wellness.

Autonomic dysregulation impairs the body’s ability to recover from stress, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of stress and pain/discomfort.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is a group of disorders caused by impaired coordination or control of the pelvic floor muscles, leading to urinary or fecal incontinence, constipation, pelvic pain, and painful intercourse. Common causes include pregnancy, childbirth, chronic straining, and pelvic surgery.

Although prevalent worldwide, PFD is often underdiagnosed. It can be physically disabling and emotionally distressing, contributing to embarrassment, social withdrawal, relationship strain, difficulty with daily tasks, and reduced participation in meaningful activities.

How Can Interoception Improve

Nervous System Dysregulation & Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?

Interoception plays a central role in regulating both the nervous system and pelvic floor function. When interoceptive awareness is diminished, inaccurate, or inconsistent, patterns of dysregulation may emerge—often presenting as anxiety, chronic muscular tension, pain, or impaired coordination of the pelvic floor. These disruptions reflect a compromised ability to accurately interpret internal cues and adaptively respond to them.

To learn more about the science behind this concept, navigate to the tab titled, "Background & Evidence"

To address dysregulation, interoception can be developed through the steps listed below, which support nervous system regulation and, in turn, promote optimal pelvic floor function:

Orientation: Situational Awareness
Attunement: Internal Awareness
Modulation: Actionable Regulation Strategies
Self-Regulation Capacity: Adaptive Functioning

To learn more about these steps, navigate to the tab titled "The Workshop"

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