{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Nervous System Eats First: Autism Spectrum, Menopause & Beyond","title":"Do You Feel Emotionally Numb or Disconnected in Midlife? You’re Not Alone","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/359a9619\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2237,"description":"Ever find yourself saying \"I don't even know what I feel anymore\"?For autistic and midlife women navigating menopause, trauma, and burnout, emotional flatness may not just be hormones. It may be interoception — the hidden sensory system that shapes how you feel, regulate, and reconnect with yourself.In this episode, Dr. Stacey Denise sits down with Dr. Kelly Mahler, OTD, OTR/L — award-winning occupational therapist and world leader in interoception science — to uncover the missing link in midlife mental health. If you have ever felt numb, foggy, or disconnected from your own body, this conversation explains exactly why — and what to do about it.What You'll Discover:What interoception really is and why it matters in midlifeHow alexithymia makes you feel numb, foggy, or emotionally flatWhy trauma, masking, and neurodivergent burnout disconnect you from body cuesThe double empathy problem and what it means for your relationshipsGentle non-clinical rituals to rebuild body trust — no perfection requiredHow to tell if your habits are nourishing or numbing your nervous systemTimestamps:00:00 What is interoception01:40 Grounding the science02:30 Dr. Kelly Mahler introduction03:39 Defining interoception05:43 Trauma and complex PTSD10:46 How to better discuss emotions12:21 Bringing interoception into mainstream care16:22 The double empathy problem21:24 Basic scoresheet for body disconnection25:06 Translation into healthy living29:40 Can interoception help women in menopause32:23 Nourishing or numb35:33 Take a free quizThis Episode Is For You If:You feel emotionally flat, numb, or disconnected in midlifeYou're autistic, ADHD, or have alexithymia and struggle to name what you feelYou've experienced trauma, burnout, or chronic maskingYou want to rebuild body trust without a rigid protocolGuest:Dr. Kelly Mahler, OTD, OTR/L — occupational therapist and world leader in interoception scienceWebsite: kelly-mahler.comInstagram: @kelly_mahlerLinkedIn: Kelly MahlerYour Next Step:Take...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/7WeayWOCbdn9Q4IBaHObHaUcPGy5zyY7EzvJyw6OJTE/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8zY2Qw/Y2I0NjA5ZTE4ZjA2/ODQ2NGE5YjZlYTI2/YTdlNC5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}