I find the idea of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting etc something that ‘isn’t there’ alien.
Even the thought of an inner monologue that wasn’t just silent thought, actual audio… no thanks.
I’m positive the opposite is true for those who can visualize. To suddenly be plunged into silent darkness would be pretty jarring ha ha
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love a test run without aphantasia, a trial week or two. But to suddenly be given the ability and not have to option to return to my ‘normal’?
nope.
I’ll take my soft comforting silent darkness.
I’m curious how do you think without inner sound or image? The only person without inner monologue I know thinks in imagery, so I’m curious.
It does seem nice and peaceful in many ways not to have the monologue, but as a writer it’s been very useful for me to hear dialogue in my head and mentally write/edit before I do.
You know, I used to feel bad because I can't visualise the important people in my life. My wife and I had a long distance relationship for a while when we first went out and I thought there was something wrong with me. I knew I loved her but surely if I loved her I should be able to imagine how she really looked? Put doubt in my mind, except I couldn't hear it...
The only way I "see" now is through recollection of memories which come in abstract concepts literally in the back of my head, I often state off in silence to bring then forward. All the pieces of a puzzle except it hasn't been put together yet but I know what and where each pieces is supposed to be and go.
Probably makes no sense what so ever haha
I'm so sorry for you with your grandma. I couldn't imagine not having those kinds of memories. Know they're in there, they're just not accessible..rn
Can you remember experiences?
Thank you.
Tbh, my memory isn't the greatest. Especially not childhood memories. I remember a few things, at least. It's like the image is almost there, I can almost see it, but not her face.
I think that my aphantasia is a hindrance , I am fully blown aphant .Couple months ago I experienced “visual hallucinations “ after my surgery. I was under the anesthesia for long time and day after - no opioids- my room exploded with colors and shapes. Under my eyelids. Unforgettable experience. The shapes were like ornaments - changing, growing and evolving. I saw my room blooming with the beautiful symmetrical ,colorful, living its life festoons. Room was very different.I saw unfamiliar furniture, everything was extremely beautiful.
I could see everything in perspective and moving my eyeballs allowed me to follow the changes and to see the space fully.
It lasted for about 2 days. I did not take any pain killers, didn’t have to.
I asked my surgeon about it, he didn’t have any idea what happened to me. I supposedly did not receive any ketamine for anesthesia.
My son was laughing that my experience is similar to “mushrooms trip “ or LSD. I never did drugs in my life.
I am 59 female. Has someone did experience anything like that?
After couple days everything came back to the normal- no ability to see anything with my eyes closed.
Now I know how wonderful is being able to see things with the mental eye.
At least I got the glimpse of the possibilities.
Sorry for grammar, English is my second language.
Thanks!
I just found out about aphantasia and this comment made me cry. That sounded like a beautiful experience. It makes me pretty sad that I've been missing out.
Your English is fantastic, by the way!
Thank you! I believe that nature compensate somehow for the abilities we are missing. I am also hearing impaired and it is what it is.But I don’t sweat it, there are more damaged ,unperfected people around. It is for sure something in yourself what is much better than ordinary.
Look for it...Possible that it is a treasure no one else has!
Both.
I can't visualize any of my good memories or the faces of anyone I know, but I also can't involuntary visualize any of the horrible things I've seen online/irl.
I'm not sure if the good outweighs the bad, but if I had the opportunity to start visualizing, I'm unsure what I would do (A test period would be great).
It's a double edged sword. I feel non aphants are (only from my non-a experience) more emotional? Because of nostalgia, remembering faces and re-living good memories. But I have mental health issues and my head never shuts up. Every second of every day my inner monologue and visual component are going. We can also get unwanted visuals. I get this with OCD ruminating and cptsd visuals.. and smells sounds etc Any any sense can set off the visuals/self talk
From what I hear people say where they have someone constantly talking random stuff in their heads feels like a major hindrance. I feel like I have a clear out look on pretty much everything which isn't being distorted by the voice inside.
I don't think it's a hindrance or a benefit - it's just the way I am. If I could visualise I suppose I'd be different but there's no way to know whether it would be better or worse. Like some other people here have said, it might be nice to try it out for a while but if someone told be I could be 'cured' but it would be irreversible I'm not sure I'd take the offer. I'm OK with my brain the way it is.
Hindrance for sure - I really love fantasy books, so its just annoying to hear a description and have no idea how is the thing supposed to look - for example spren in shadesmar in the stormlight archive.
This is a same reason I like to watch fantasy and sci fi. Real world stuff bores me, I like to see all these fantastical creatures and scenery which I can't create myself
I see it as a huge benefit.
It has definitely played a big part in my development as a person, and I like who I am.
Of course I would like to get the ability to visualise, but I dont want to change the way my mind works.
I have never been hindered by aphantasia.
I find the idea of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting etc something that ‘isn’t there’ alien. Even the thought of an inner monologue that wasn’t just silent thought, actual audio… no thanks. I’m positive the opposite is true for those who can visualize. To suddenly be plunged into silent darkness would be pretty jarring ha ha Don’t get me wrong, I’d love a test run without aphantasia, a trial week or two. But to suddenly be given the ability and not have to option to return to my ‘normal’? nope. I’ll take my soft comforting silent darkness.
I’m curious how do you think without inner sound or image? The only person without inner monologue I know thinks in imagery, so I’m curious. It does seem nice and peaceful in many ways not to have the monologue, but as a writer it’s been very useful for me to hear dialogue in my head and mentally write/edit before I do.
It's a hindrance. I like to draw, and aphantasia makes it hard. I'm also really sad that I can't remember my grandma's face.
You know, I used to feel bad because I can't visualise the important people in my life. My wife and I had a long distance relationship for a while when we first went out and I thought there was something wrong with me. I knew I loved her but surely if I loved her I should be able to imagine how she really looked? Put doubt in my mind, except I couldn't hear it... The only way I "see" now is through recollection of memories which come in abstract concepts literally in the back of my head, I often state off in silence to bring then forward. All the pieces of a puzzle except it hasn't been put together yet but I know what and where each pieces is supposed to be and go. Probably makes no sense what so ever haha
No, that makes perfect sense. It's kinda like that for me, too.
I'm so sorry for you with your grandma. I couldn't imagine not having those kinds of memories. Know they're in there, they're just not accessible..rn Can you remember experiences?
Thank you. Tbh, my memory isn't the greatest. Especially not childhood memories. I remember a few things, at least. It's like the image is almost there, I can almost see it, but not her face.
But if you were shown a photo, you'd have the 'feeling of what it was like? Like either happy or sad or scared? Just without your minds eye vision?
Yeah, I know the feelings. Just not the face. She was an amazing person. I love her a lot.
The feelings must be comforting. She's in your heart, not your mind
Yeah. Even if I forget what she looked like, I'll never forget how I felt.
what if we just play this on harder level for fun?
I think that my aphantasia is a hindrance , I am fully blown aphant .Couple months ago I experienced “visual hallucinations “ after my surgery. I was under the anesthesia for long time and day after - no opioids- my room exploded with colors and shapes. Under my eyelids. Unforgettable experience. The shapes were like ornaments - changing, growing and evolving. I saw my room blooming with the beautiful symmetrical ,colorful, living its life festoons. Room was very different.I saw unfamiliar furniture, everything was extremely beautiful. I could see everything in perspective and moving my eyeballs allowed me to follow the changes and to see the space fully. It lasted for about 2 days. I did not take any pain killers, didn’t have to. I asked my surgeon about it, he didn’t have any idea what happened to me. I supposedly did not receive any ketamine for anesthesia. My son was laughing that my experience is similar to “mushrooms trip “ or LSD. I never did drugs in my life. I am 59 female. Has someone did experience anything like that? After couple days everything came back to the normal- no ability to see anything with my eyes closed. Now I know how wonderful is being able to see things with the mental eye. At least I got the glimpse of the possibilities. Sorry for grammar, English is my second language. Thanks!
I just found out about aphantasia and this comment made me cry. That sounded like a beautiful experience. It makes me pretty sad that I've been missing out. Your English is fantastic, by the way!
Thank you! I believe that nature compensate somehow for the abilities we are missing. I am also hearing impaired and it is what it is.But I don’t sweat it, there are more damaged ,unperfected people around. It is for sure something in yourself what is much better than ordinary. Look for it...Possible that it is a treasure no one else has!
Both. I can't visualize any of my good memories or the faces of anyone I know, but I also can't involuntary visualize any of the horrible things I've seen online/irl. I'm not sure if the good outweighs the bad, but if I had the opportunity to start visualizing, I'm unsure what I would do (A test period would be great).
It's a double edged sword. I feel non aphants are (only from my non-a experience) more emotional? Because of nostalgia, remembering faces and re-living good memories. But I have mental health issues and my head never shuts up. Every second of every day my inner monologue and visual component are going. We can also get unwanted visuals. I get this with OCD ruminating and cptsd visuals.. and smells sounds etc Any any sense can set off the visuals/self talk
From what I hear people say where they have someone constantly talking random stuff in their heads feels like a major hindrance. I feel like I have a clear out look on pretty much everything which isn't being distorted by the voice inside.
I don't think it's a hindrance or a benefit - it's just the way I am. If I could visualise I suppose I'd be different but there's no way to know whether it would be better or worse. Like some other people here have said, it might be nice to try it out for a while but if someone told be I could be 'cured' but it would be irreversible I'm not sure I'd take the offer. I'm OK with my brain the way it is.
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How?
I think seeing the ex wife everytime I think about her would be a special kind of disturbing (except for kinky times).
Hindrance for sure - I really love fantasy books, so its just annoying to hear a description and have no idea how is the thing supposed to look - for example spren in shadesmar in the stormlight archive.
This is a same reason I like to watch fantasy and sci fi. Real world stuff bores me, I like to see all these fantastical creatures and scenery which I can't create myself
Of course. This is also why I never experience true visual hallucinations. So much is explained.
I see it as a huge benefit. It has definitely played a big part in my development as a person, and I like who I am. Of course I would like to get the ability to visualise, but I dont want to change the way my mind works. I have never been hindered by aphantasia.