Aphantasia - Mind Blown

[amylevan]

I just today learned, in my mid-40s, that picturing in your mind is not a metaphor and that most of you can actually picture things in your mind!!!!

So if I asked you to picture Main Street in WDW, you can actually “see” it??? Not just know what it looks like and have words to describe it, but actually see a picture of it when you close your eyes?!?!??

My mind is completely blown.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I’m sorry for the bleak existence you’ve experienced thus far.

 

[dizneegirl]

Not all people (can) picture things in their mind?

That's how I remember things... places, moments, where I last saw fill-in-the-blank... And how I dream. Do people dream without pictures/moving pictures?

 

[nw6675]

Am I allowed to say ***? What???

 

[nw6675]

Oops I'm not lol

 

[Christine]

Yes, I can do that. Figured everyone can. I mean, isn't that why are therapists have us close our eyes and imagine ourselves in our favorite places (beach, mountains, Disney, etc).

 

[SirDuff]

Yes, I can do that. Figured everyone can. I mean, isn't that why are therapists have us close our eyes and imagine ourselves in our favorite places (beach, mountains, Disney, etc).

Which stresses the heck out of me, because, like the OP, I cannot do it. I figured this out in organic chemistry where we kept being told to "flip your mental image of the molecule" and I never had a mental image of a molecule, let alone the ability to flip it.

 

[ramee]

I mean. I can “picture” or imagine/conceptualize something more like a fuzzy memory or a dream. I wouldn’t be able to see like a clear, detailed stock image as if it were physically before my own eyes.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I learned at the age of 50 not everybody can hear their heartbeatI was quite shocked to find out that most people can’t hear their own heartbeat when you’re trying to sleep that is some of the most annoying sound in the world - so to me it’s not surprising that some people can’t picture things in their head I can do math in my head but the majority of people can’t
My depth perception is terrible but other people don’t have a problem with it that’s what makes everybody original
It just would be nice if people would stop assuming that everybody can do what everybody else can do because it’s just not the case we’re all unique

 

[amylevan]

Which stresses the heck out of me, because, like the OP, I cannot do it. I figured this out in organic chemistry where we kept being told to "flip your mental image of the molecule" and I never had a mental image of a molecule, let alone the ability to flip it.

I consider myself fairly intelligent so I’m a little ashamed to think I’m just figuring this out. I really thought it was metaphorical when people would ask you to picture something. Because there are no pictures in my brain. No fuzzy memories, no hazy figures, nothing.

Not all people (can) picture things in their mind?

That's how I remember things... places, moments, where I last saw fill-in-the-blank... And how I dream. Do people dream without pictures/moving pictures?

I dream in pictures…I think. I can rarely remember my dreams and when I do, I remember what happened in them but I don’t “see” what I remembered so I don’t know for sure if I saw anything while dreaming or if my brain just interpreted my dream that way. Or something. I don’t know. I’m feeling very self conscious about this.

 

[luvnwdwgal]

Strange. Just strange.

 

[fla4fun]

I consider myself fairly intelligent so I’m a little ashamed to think I’m just figuring this out. I really thought it was metaphorical when people would ask you to picture something. Because there are no pictures in my brain. No fuzzy memories, no hazy figures, nothing.


I dream in pictures…I think. I can rarely remember my dreams and when I do, I remember what happened in them but I don’t “see” what I remembered so I don’t know for sure if I saw anything while dreaming or if my brain just interpreted my dream that way. Or something. I don’t know. I’m feeling very self conscious about this.

You shouldn’t feel self conscious about it. It’s simply that you process things differently than some people do. There is nothing wrong with that. There’s no wrong or right here. There are a myriad of different ways to use our senses and brain to move through this world. You said you are ashamed by how long it took you to figure out that some people see things differently than you, but you shouldn’t be. If there has been no reason to question your way of processing information, why would you think there was anything to ask about? You are fine, just the way you are.

 

[mom2rtk]

I can do that. I actually think I'm pretty good at it. In college I would write my notes out before exams because I could almost see that written page in my mind during the exam.

But I really don't think everyone can. I sew for others, and work with people making suggestions about changes to the items I offer. It's pretty clear to me that some people can picture things in their minds and some just can't.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Hold up, some people actually do not hold images in their mind? Didn't know this was a thing, never even heard anyone say it.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I mean. I can “picture” or imagine/conceptualize something more like a fuzzy memory or a dream. I wouldn’t be able to see like a clear, detailed stock image as if it were physically before my own eyes.

Really?

So many questions.... What goes on when you read? Do scary stories scare you or no effect?

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I just today learned, in my mid-40s, that picturing in your mind is not a metaphor and that most of you can actually picture things in your mind!!!!

So if I asked you to picture Main Street in WDW, you can actually “see” it??? Not just know what it looks like and have words to describe it, but actually see a picture of it when you close your eyes?!?!??

My mind is completely blown.

Eh, don’t worry about it. How would you possibly know how others experience things in their own minds unless given a reason to question it? I was mid-thirties before I learned I was a synesthete. It’s number form synesthesia, not one of the cool ones where I can taste purple, or something. I just see things like calendar maps and number lines. Still, it was a surprise to realize not everyone has a rigidly defined mental layout of the alphabet that illuminates or darkens as they refer to it in their head.

 

[ramee]

Really?

So many questions.... What goes on when you read? Do scary stories scare you or no effect?

lol. I can imagine scenery or what a character looks like with given details. But this thread makes it seem like I should be watching a movie in my head.

If it’s a good story, I’ll get invested. I haven’t read a horror novel since probably Goosebumps. Maybe I should.

 

[prairie_girl]

lol. I can imagine scenery or what a character looks like with given details. But this thread makes it seem like I should be watching a movie in my head.

If it’s a good story, I’ll get invested. I haven’t read a horror novel since probably Goosebumps. Maybe I should.

I’m the same as you. It’s like I’m looking at a memory, not like I’m standing in front of whatever I’m imagining and can see it clear as a bell.

 

[ramee]

I’m the same as you. It’s like I’m looking at a memory, not like I’m standing in front of whatever I’m imagining and can see it clear as a bell.

Yeah. Am I understanding that people are talking about seeing clear images as if you’re looking at a photo with your eyes open? I close my eyes and think of main street, I see the back of my eyelids. I feel like we need to be astral projecting ourselves better.

 

[amylevan]

I came across this today in a book club discussion, where someone was talking about what they see when they read.

They had this picture and asked you to visualize an apple. There is a wide range in what people “see”. I am a 5 in this picture, I don’t see any apple.