Seriously, Pee When You Need to Pee: Why Interoception Is the Gateway Back to Your Body
When Was the Last Time You Peed Right When You Needed To?
If you’re like most people I work with, chances are you’ve waited. You’ve held it during a meeting, ignored it mid-errand, or told your body, “Not now, I’m busy.”
And sure, once or twice isn’t a big deal. But if you’re regularly overriding that full-bladder signal, there’s a good chance you’re ignoring a whole bunch of other cues from your body, too—like hunger, thirst, exhaustion, emotional overwhelm, or even subtle urges for movement or rest.
This, my friend, is an interoception problem. And it’s more common than you think.
What Is Interoception?
Interoception is your ability to sense internal cues from your body—like needing to pee, eat, rest, cry, or take a deep breath.
It’s your internal GPS that lets you know:
Your stomach is growling: Time to eat.
Your heart is racing: Something’s off.
Your muscles are tight: Maybe I’m holding stress.
You’ve had five coffees and zero water: Hydrate, please.
Basically, it’s how your body whispers (or sometimes yells), “Hey, I need something.”
But here’s the kicker: many of us have learned to tune those messages out. On purpose. Because we’ve been taught that our needs are inconvenient, selfish, or just plain inefficient.
Capitalism Doesn’t Want You to Pee When You Need to Pee
Let’s be honest: we live in a culture that rewards self-neglect and calls it productivity.
From a young age, we’re conditioned to ignore our bodies:
In school, we ask for permission to pee.
In offices, we sit through meetings while hungry or squirming.
In care roles (looking at you, moms and helpers), we put others’ needs ahead of our own—again and again.
It’s not a personal failure. It’s the result of capitalism, social programming, and survival coping. The unspoken rules say:
“Rest is laziness.”
“Emotions make you weak.”
“Only push harder if you want to succeed.”
We internalize these beliefs until we no longer recognize our own needs unless they’re screaming.
And for folks who are neurodivergent, living with trauma, or chronically burnt out, interoception can become even more muffled—or totally scrambled. You might feel everything and nothing all at once.
The Cost of Tuning Out for Too Long
When we constantly override our body’s signals, our system adapts. But not in a good way.
We stop trusting our gut—literally and figuratively.
We disconnect from hunger and fullness.
We don’t notice tension until it turns into pain.
We live in a state of numbness or chronic overwhelm.
This isn’t resilience. This is survival mode dressed up as being “high functioning.”
If your nervous system is always on high alert, you won’t hear those quieter interoceptive cues. You’ll just feel flat, anxious, exhausted, or like your body is a stranger you barely recognize.
Relearning to Listen: It Starts With the Small Stuff
Good news: you don’t have to quit your job, move to the woods, or do a weeklong silent retreat to reconnect with your body. You can start right now—by peeing when you need to pee.
Seriously. Start with the basics:
Notice when you’re hungry—and eat.
Notice when you’re full—and stop.
Drink water before you’re parched.
Take five minutes to lie down when you’re drained.
Ask: What does my body want right now?
If you’re not sure how to answer that last one, you’re not alone. That’s what somatic work is for—gently rebuilding the bridge between your body’s messages and your conscious awareness.
Why Somatic Coaching Helps
Somatic coaching helps you learn the language of your body again.
Through body-based practices, nervous system regulation tools, and interoceptive awareness, you begin to:
Feel more grounded and present
Recognize your own boundaries and limits
Respond to stress without spiraling
Move from burnout to balance (and yes, it’s possible)
This work isn’t about “fixing” you—it’s about coming home to yourself. Piece by piece. Signal by signal. Breath by breath.
Ready to Reconnect?
If you’ve been ignoring your body’s cues for too long, or if you’re just ready to feel more at home in your own skin, I’ve got something for you.
👉 Join my free somatic mini-course for everyday stress — designed to help you reconnect with your body, one small step at a time. Think gentle movement, nervous system support, and practical tools you can use right away.
Because life gets better when you actually listen to your body—and yes, that includes peeing when you need to pee.
Shari Lee Block
Somatic Coach | Nervous System Nerd | Anti-Burnout Advocate
