The Story
Autistic people commonly experience difficulties with interoception, leading to a ‘mind-body disconnect’ and a life that is dominated by either the outside world (inundation from the five senses and the emotions of other people), or the thinking mind (too many thoughts and analysis paralysis), or both. Learning to sense the body allows for more accurate emotion recognition and interpretation. It allows healing from distressing emotions such as trauma and grief, and increases connection to the self and others. Our course will provide strategies on how to build interoceptive awareness through mindfulness. Many autistic people struggle with the practice of mindfulness. We explore the potential pitfalls that can occur for autistic people when they practice mindfulness, including mind-body activities, how to navigate the pitfalls, and ways to adjust the practices for neurodivergence.
Description
Autistic people commonly experience difficulties with interoception, leading to a ‘mind-body disconnect’ and a life that is dominated by either the outside world (inundation from the five senses and the emotions of other people), or the thinking mind (too many thoughts and analysis paralysis), or both. Learning to sense the body allows for more accurate emotion recognition and interpretation. It allows healing from distressing emotions such as trauma and grief, and increases connection to the self and others. Our course will provide strategies on how to build interoceptive awareness through mindfulness. Many autistic people struggle with the practice of mindfulness. We explore the potential pitfalls that can occur for autistic people when they practice mindfulness, including mind-body activities, how to navigate the pitfalls, and ways to adjust the practices for neurodivergence.
