{"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":" Have you ever said, “I don’t even recognize myself anymore” — but your labs come back “normal”? That gap between how you feel and what you can explain isn’t weakness. It has a name: interoception — the body’s hidden sense that helps you feel safe, centered, and alive. When menopause, neurodivergence, or trauma mutes that internal signal, your nervous system loses its compass. The result? Alexithymia, shutdown, and emotional disconnection. In this conversation, Dr. Stacey Denise sits down with Dr. Kelly Mahler, award-winning occupational therapist and interoception researcher, to unpack the sensory and emotional truth behind why midlife can feel so flat — and what it takes to feel again. Primary keywords: autistic women, interoception, alexithymia, menopause, neurodivergence, trauma-informed care, sensory regulation, burnout, emotional numbness.  What You’ll Learn: What interoception is — and why it disappears in midlifeHow alexithymia shows up in high-functioning womenWhy trauma, stress, and ND masking blunt your body’s signalsThe difference between nourishing and numbing ritualsGentle ways to rebuild body trust and emotional access (no perfection required) This Is For You If:You feel emotionally numb, flat, or “not yourself”You shut down under stress or can’t explain how you feelYou’ve been told “everything looks normal” — but it isn’tYou’re navigating menopause and feeling disconnected from your bodyYou’re ND, sensory-sensitive, or just deeply tired of powering throughTIMESTAMPS00:00 —  What is Interoception01:40 —  Grounding the Science02:30 —  Dr. Kelly Mahler03:39 — Defining Interoception05:43 — Trauma Complex Post- Traumatic stress disorder10:46 — How to better discuss emotions12:21 — How to intercept interoception with mainstream16:22 — 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 quizLINKS &...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/KL_SzwlEejS62VWdJmoPbRi2_WviJ_Z6DYkY_Slri9w/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9lYjQy/ODY4YjBjNDQ3Y2Ez/MjZiOWE3ZjkxYWQ2/OWYxZS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}