Thanks for sharing! Being an aphantasiac, I feel I excel in my work compared to those who can visualise things. When I design, I move things around based on what feels like good user experience to me and what makes me feel satisfied based on the sense I have of what it should do, rather than relying on mind's eye visualisation. This way, I don't get as attached to my initial ideas and don't mind redoing it until I'm happy with the outcome.
While reading, despite not imagining what's on the page, I find myself paying more attention to the flow of language and concepts. I particularly enjoy reading sci-fi and fantasy, where although I don't visualize characters, I grasp the concept they represent in the story. This has made me a more critical reader, which I think is lovely
Thanks, Charlie. It’s amazing how the brain works! Interestingly, I have a pretty robust visual brain (overlaid with continual streams of words!) but I have a poor memory for my experiences. I really don’t remember so many events and people from my past. I sort of hate it when someone says, “Remember when … “ because odds are I don’t - at all. I can mentally picture places, things, rooms, even processes, but I can’t remember events.
Thanks for sharing this Charlie! Until sometime last year I’d never heard of Aphantasia and when I came across it, I tried to figure out if I had it but without a reference point of what others can see I found it really hard to be sure! But the more I read about it, the more likely I think it is. I’ve always struggled to create without reference, I remember in my a-level art class being totally stumped on how to move my project on. It made me think I was just a bit rubbish at art even though I could draw well if I copied something. What you mention about struggling to tell stories huuuugely resonates, it’s made me feel so isolated and boring in conversations in the past when I can’t jump in with my own story anecdotes. I just can’t remember them - and now I’ve stopped trying to and accepted it’s not the way I communicate. I also definitely find the pace of conversations too fast and by the time I’ve processed what I want to say, everyone else has moved on. I think that’s why I find 1:1 conversations so much easier to navigate!
Thank you for sharing your experiences Liv - it could be me writing your comment! Always special to connect over shared experiences, especially when they're ones that feel isolating at times.
Thanks for this post Charlie, it's like you have been inside my mind because this could be about me. I am a full aphantasic, I see nothing at all just a lot of nothing, infinite black. I find it really hard to explain to people that I can still imagine how things would look but like you say its conceptual, a feeling of just knowing. I am also exactly the same with reading, and have recently discovered a love of literary fiction as there is far less description for me to skim over and a lot more about the people, their lives, their emotions.
I do get sad that I cannot relive memories in a more visceral way but often times a scent, location or physical feeling will give me a brief feeling and description of the memory.
One thing I think is a benefit of having aphantasia is that if I see something I wish I hadn't then I cannot recall the image once it has gone, I know I have seen something that wasn't nice or that invoked feeling in me but I can't see it and therefore those images cannot haunt me.
This was SO interesting. I learned so so much from this post and started wondering about my own restraints. Thought-provoking. Thank you for sharing this.
Very interesting how different our minds our. I believe I’m a hyperphantasic, but not for words, they appear blurred like I’ve censored them (I think my dyslexia).
I listen to a podcast called Happier by Gretchen Rubin and she has recently wrote a book about the 5 senses. She recommends writing a memory using the 5 senses: smell, taste, sight, touch and sound. I wondered if that would be a good way for you to capture moments? Just musing. You could even write movement somehow too.
Thank you for sharing Sheila :) That's super interesting, and actually reflects the kinds of details I capture in my diary - they often revolve around the sensations whether it be making a note of the specific food I had or the feeling of sun on my skin, or the sensation of a hug.
That’s very interesting! That you are honing in on your other memory senses. I love that. They say once one sense is removed the others heighten, perhaps it’s the same for memories too?
Thanks for sharing! Being an aphantasiac, I feel I excel in my work compared to those who can visualise things. When I design, I move things around based on what feels like good user experience to me and what makes me feel satisfied based on the sense I have of what it should do, rather than relying on mind's eye visualisation. This way, I don't get as attached to my initial ideas and don't mind redoing it until I'm happy with the outcome.
While reading, despite not imagining what's on the page, I find myself paying more attention to the flow of language and concepts. I particularly enjoy reading sci-fi and fantasy, where although I don't visualize characters, I grasp the concept they represent in the story. This has made me a more critical reader, which I think is lovely
I love the way you used aphanrasiac to your advantage! The mind’s eye is not a trust worthy place as in there can be very different out in the world.
Adore these reflections, thank you for sharing Emily.
Thanks, Charlie. It’s amazing how the brain works! Interestingly, I have a pretty robust visual brain (overlaid with continual streams of words!) but I have a poor memory for my experiences. I really don’t remember so many events and people from my past. I sort of hate it when someone says, “Remember when … “ because odds are I don’t - at all. I can mentally picture places, things, rooms, even processes, but I can’t remember events.
It's such an anxiety-inducing feeling, itsn't it?!
Thanks for sharing this Charlie! Until sometime last year I’d never heard of Aphantasia and when I came across it, I tried to figure out if I had it but without a reference point of what others can see I found it really hard to be sure! But the more I read about it, the more likely I think it is. I’ve always struggled to create without reference, I remember in my a-level art class being totally stumped on how to move my project on. It made me think I was just a bit rubbish at art even though I could draw well if I copied something. What you mention about struggling to tell stories huuuugely resonates, it’s made me feel so isolated and boring in conversations in the past when I can’t jump in with my own story anecdotes. I just can’t remember them - and now I’ve stopped trying to and accepted it’s not the way I communicate. I also definitely find the pace of conversations too fast and by the time I’ve processed what I want to say, everyone else has moved on. I think that’s why I find 1:1 conversations so much easier to navigate!
Thank you for sharing your experiences Liv - it could be me writing your comment! Always special to connect over shared experiences, especially when they're ones that feel isolating at times.
Thanks for this post Charlie, it's like you have been inside my mind because this could be about me. I am a full aphantasic, I see nothing at all just a lot of nothing, infinite black. I find it really hard to explain to people that I can still imagine how things would look but like you say its conceptual, a feeling of just knowing. I am also exactly the same with reading, and have recently discovered a love of literary fiction as there is far less description for me to skim over and a lot more about the people, their lives, their emotions.
I do get sad that I cannot relive memories in a more visceral way but often times a scent, location or physical feeling will give me a brief feeling and description of the memory.
One thing I think is a benefit of having aphantasia is that if I see something I wish I hadn't then I cannot recall the image once it has gone, I know I have seen something that wasn't nice or that invoked feeling in me but I can't see it and therefore those images cannot haunt me.
omg I've just discovered a love of literary fiction too! It's really been a breathe of fresh air.
This was SO interesting. I learned so so much from this post and started wondering about my own restraints. Thought-provoking. Thank you for sharing this.
Wonderful to hear Mary, thank you for reading.
Very interesting how different our minds our. I believe I’m a hyperphantasic, but not for words, they appear blurred like I’ve censored them (I think my dyslexia).
I listen to a podcast called Happier by Gretchen Rubin and she has recently wrote a book about the 5 senses. She recommends writing a memory using the 5 senses: smell, taste, sight, touch and sound. I wondered if that would be a good way for you to capture moments? Just musing. You could even write movement somehow too.
Thank you for sharing Sheila :) That's super interesting, and actually reflects the kinds of details I capture in my diary - they often revolve around the sensations whether it be making a note of the specific food I had or the feeling of sun on my skin, or the sensation of a hug.
That’s very interesting! That you are honing in on your other memory senses. I love that. They say once one sense is removed the others heighten, perhaps it’s the same for memories too?
Could well be!
👂👃🙌