I cover why standard somatic advice fails some neurodivergent brains and explain interoceptive confusion, emotions, feelings, and explore how to regulate when you genuinely cannot process emotions using sensations from your body. This can affect nearly half of all autistic, and around 40% of ADHD brains to some extent, and for some of us to a great extent.Many standard therapies, models, and general wellness advice assumes everyone can locate specific feelings as clear physical sensations. And easily apply what emotion that sensation might involve. I discuss how alexithymia changes the link between an emotion and the body for autistic adults and those with ADHD. I share what the research says about having faint or absent internal signals (interoception). I also cover what actually helps when you check in with yourself and find absolutely nothing. All content across my channels revolves around these distinct episodes rather than general videos.And an important note: alexithymia, interoception differences, and so on does NOT mean that we do not have emotions or feelings or sensations. It means that it works differently for us. We have emotions, often strong ones, but have differences in processing them.WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:Why asking where you feel an emotion causes distressHow the brain constructs feelings using missing internal dataWhat to track when your body returns a blank or neutral signalHow external markers provide reliable regulation informationCHAPTERS:0:00 Why body check-ins fail1:13 Interoceptive confusion defined2:42 The somatic instruction problem4:14 The missing signal experience7:07 How alexithymia changes emotional mapping9:24 The way brains build emotions12:30 The gap between physical signals and awareness15:38 Alternative tracking for absent sensations18:48 The danger of standard somatic advice20:03 Tracking options beyond emotional labels23:52 Concrete external data strategies27:01 Rejecting shame around blank signalsLEARN MORE:Just a general note that scientific literature often (and often incorrectly) uses deficit-based descriptions and language that can be frustrating or angering to read, including the studies below.Study on alexithymia and interoceptive awareness https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S00109452163005942024 study on interoceptive confusion and attention https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11542822/Earlier episode on interoception: https://youtu.be/ZIVvkk6eMQIRESOURCES & LINKS:Neurodivergent coaching (1:1): https://jendehaan.com/coachingGroup practice: https://jendehaan.com/offscript/ (introductory program coming soon, check site for other options in future)Resources and blog posts: https://jendehaan.comPodcast version and regulation practice episodes: https://jendehaan.com/wired-divergentNewsletter signup: https://jendehaan.com/newslettersAbout Audio and VideoThis show is available as a video on YouTube and Spotify. The audio you are hearing in strategy episodes is taken from the video version, which is recorded both inside and outside, and why there are some changes in the microphone quality.NEURODIVERGENT RESOURCES FROM JEN:Neurodivergent coaching (1:1): https://jendehaan.com/coachingGroup Programs: https://jendehaan.com/offscript/ (introductory program coming soon, check site for other options in future)Newsletter signup: https://jendehaan.com/newslettersWired Divergent videos: https://youtube.com/@jendehaanResources and blog posts: https://jendehaan.comSupport the showLike this episode or show and want more? Support us with a one-time tip: https://learn.improvupdate.com/products/supportWe love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact to ask me anything, anytime. You can support the shows by signing up with Captivate here: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yzjiytzWe have our newsletters on Kit.com. We also have our tip form with them, and sell products on their platform. Easy, and they don't take a cut! Check Kit out and support the show using this: https://partners.kit.com/ijdkivtf8nddTranscriptions by MacWhisper. I use and love the Pro version (subscription free!) - you can get it too using this link: https://gumroad.com/a/20303251/ivpqkSchedule posts? We use Metricool (reasonable for multiple accounts/brands/shows). Support us using our link: https://f.mtr.cool/VZBOZRAboutThis podcast was created, written, and is hosted by Jen deHaan. Jen has certifications related to healthy communities (Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy), nervous system regulation and soon teacher training certification on community resilience. She has a BFA in teaching creative arts to adults. You can find her full bio here.This podcast was made in British Columbia, Canada by Jen deHaan.I respectfully acknowledge that I live and work on the unceded traditional territory of the Coast Salish peoples, and honour the homelands of the Qualicum First Nation and the Snaw-naw-as First Nation, as well as the ties of the Snuneymuxw and K'ómoks First Nations. I would like to express gratitude to these and all First Nations for their continued stewardship of these lands and waters where I create these episodes.DISCLAIMER:Wired Divergent is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. If you're in crisis or need clinical support, please reach out to a qualified professional.Crisis & Support Resources: https://jendehaan.com/mental-health-resourcesFull Disclaimer: https://jendehaan.com/disclaimerThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy