Aphantasia

[Bangkokhibby]

Heard of it? Got it?
I didn't know this condition had a name until recently. Mine has got much worse over the years. It's basically an inability to picture anything really in your head. I had no bother with the wank bank as a teenager but nothing sticks now.
Most troublesome is routes. I just can't picture more than maybe a half a mile ahead, even on routes I drive every day. I also often 100% feel the wrong way is the right way if I'm not too familiar with the area.
Added to that I can't estimate distance or length. From a kitchen worktop for example to the distance to the shops....complete blank.

 

[joethehibby]

Heard of it? Got it?
I didn't know this condition had a name until recently. Mine has got much worse over the years. It's basically an inability to picture anything really in your head. I had no bother with the wank bank as a teenager but nothing sticks now.
Most troublesome is routes. I just can't picture more than maybe a half a mile ahead, even on routes I drive every day. I also often 100% feel the wrong way is the right way if I'm not too familiar with the area.
Added to that I can't estimate distance or length. From a kitchen worktop for example to the distance to the shops....complete blank.

That’s strange BK, never heard of that one, is it getting worse quickly or gradual ?
Are there any brain excercises that can help ? To ward off any future memory problems I memorise different facts / results over a designated period / years

 

[Bangkokhibby]

That’s strange BK, never heard of that one, is it getting worse quickly or gradual ?
Are there any brain excercises that can help ? To ward off any future memory problems I memorise different facts / results over a designated period / years

There's congenital and aquired. I have the latter. I do crosswords and mah-jong but not sure it helps

 

[joethehibby]

There's congenital and aquired. I have the latter. I do crosswords and mah-jong but not sure it helps

So does it give you problems or is just annoying , just googled it and who knew there was such a condition

 

[Bangkokhibby]

So does it give you problems or is just annoying , just googled it and who knew there was such a condition

Its not debilitating at all but the driving aspect is mightily frustrating.
Visualisation as an aid is a complete no. I remember when I still played golf I'd try to visualize the perfect drive. I couldn't get further than putting a tee in the ground. Any pictures in my brain disappear within a couple of seconds.

 

[joethehibby]

Its not debilitating at all but the driving aspect is mightily frustrating.
Visualisation as an aid is a complete no. I remember when I still played golf I'd try to visualize the perfect drive. I couldn't get further than putting a tee in the ground. Any pictures in my brain disappear within a couple of seconds.

So does this only apply to things you do personally and not say, for example, the outcome of football matches quite fascinating tbh

 

[Bangkokhibby]

So does this only apply to things you do personally and not say, for example, the outcome of football matches quite fascinating tbh

I can't picture ANYTHING for more than a couple of seconds. I can't picture which road I need to take until I'm quite close.

 

[Bangkokhibby]

For example Joe. I know Myko missed a penalty recently. If I try to picture it in my head I can barely see the stutter but its all gone before the ball gets to the keeper

 

[joethehibby]

I can't picture ANYTHING for more than a couple of seconds. I can't picture which road I need to take until I'm quite close.

Gotcha now . For example I can see myself going to the retail park and some assole not stopping at the zebra crossing Can even visualise what make and colour of car and the twat that’s driving it

 

[egb_hibs]

A friend of mine has what I guess must be the congenital form, as he’s always had it. He only realised quite late in life that this wasn’t the way everyone is.

He simply has no ‘minds eye’ at all, and cannot mentally picture anything. I was asking him about it and, for example, how he think of his wife and kids. He says he stores a list of attributes about them - hair colour, height, whatever - but he cannot ‘see’ them.

It’s quite jarring to me to try and imagine it as I think I’m quite a visual thinker. Sorry to hear of the problems this is causing you BK.

 

[Bangkokhibby]

A friend of mine has what I guess must be the congenital form, as he’s always had it. He only realised quite late in life that this wasn’t the way everyone is.

He simply has no ‘minds eye’ at all, and cannot mentally picture anything. I was asking him about it and, for example, how he think of his wife and kids. He says he stores a list of attributes about them - hair colour, height, whatever - but he cannot ‘see’ them.

It’s quite jarring to me to try and imagine it as I think I’m quite a visual thinker. Sorry to hear of the problems this is causing you BK.

Thank you. I get the briefest glimpse of faces then gone. So almost but not quite as bad as your friend.

 

[egb_hibs]

Thank you. I get the briefest glimpse of faces then gone. So almost but not quite as bad as your friend.

I think you are worse off. He doesn’t know what he is missing, so to speak, as he has never known otherwise. Indeed, like I say, he though everyone was like this until well into adulthood.

 

[emerald green]

Thank you. I get the briefest glimpse of faces then gone. So almost but not quite as bad as your friend.

I wonder if your brain just "files" things away and doesnt access as theres no danger to you, if that makes sense... like its in the miscellaneous folder in your bonce?

 

[joethehibby]

A friend of mine has what I guess must be the congenital form, as he’s always had it. He only realised quite late in life that this wasn’t the way everyone is.

He simply has no ‘minds eye’ at all, and cannot mentally picture anything. I was asking him about it and, for example, how he think of his wife and kids. He says he stores a list of attributes about them - hair colour, height, whatever - but he cannot ‘see’ them.

It’s quite jarring to me to try and imagine it as I think I’m quite a visual thinker. Sorry to hear of the problems this is causing you BK.

If he can’t see them is that not blindness, surely he can remember what she looked like the last time he saw her. Not the same thing as BK surely Has he been diagnosed with aphantasia

 

[Bangkokhibby]

I wonder if your brain just "files" things away and doesnt access as theres no danger to you, if that makes sense... like its in the miscellaneous folder in your bonce?

Something like that maybe if were talking more about memory maybe.
I remember things fine without actually seeing them or if I can it's just for the 2 seconds. I know that must sound weird.

 

[Bangkokhibby]

If he can’t see them is that not blindness, surely he can remember what she looked like the last time he saw her. Not the same thing as BK surely Has he been diagnosed with aphantasia

He can remember but not visualise. Two different things which I know must seem strange

 

[emerald green]

Something like that maybe if were talking more about memory maybe.
I remember things fine without actually seeing them or if I can it's just for the 2 seconds. I know that must sound weird.

Just out of interest, do you have an "inner voice"?

Aparently loads of people dont have that, so was just wondering if you were sans inner voice as well as projecting images in your head.

Best luck with it though mate

 

[Bangkokhibby]

Just out of interest, do you have an "inner voice"?

Aparently loads of people dont have that, so was just wondering if you were sans inner voice as well as projecting images in your head.

Best luck with it though mate

Is an inner voice normal? I certainly don't and always thought only folk with mental issues heard "the voices"

 

[egb_hibs]

If he can’t see them is that not blindness, surely he can remember what she looked like the last time he saw her. Not the same thing as BK surely Has he been diagnosed with aphantasia

He can see them with his eyes, he’s not blind, but he can’t picture them in his “mind’s eye” - he can’t shut his eyes and picture his missus.

When I think about it this must shut off so much, not just practical or even real things. For example, I can picture myself rising to head in Liam Henderson’s cross in 2016, even though it’s not real. He’s can’t do that sort of thing either.

 

[egb_hibs]

Is an inner voice normal? I certainly don't and always thought only folk with mental issues heard "the voices"

What I think he means is do you ‘hear’ your thoughts. So as you read this sentence are you ‘hearing’ the words just as the mind’s eye ‘sees’ things. Some people don’t and I find that even more mind bending than the aphantasia.

 

[egb_hibs]

Just out of interest, do you have an "inner voice"?

Aparently loads of people dont have that, so was just wondering if you were sans inner voice as well as projecting images in your head.

Best luck with it though mate

If someone had aphantasia and also lacked an inner voice…. I wonder how the fuck they’d be?

I mean if you can neither think in images nor think in ‘narrative’, how would you think at all?

 

[Doc Shrink]

 

[joethehibby]

Is an inner voice normal? I certainly don't and always thought only folk with mental issues heard "the voices"

Does EG not just mean thought processes. e.g. your sitting watching the monday night nfl game on the planner and your thinking ahead to what your plans are for the day, wot I’ve just done . So not actualling hearing voices

 

[Bangkokhibby]

What I think he means is do you ‘hear’ your thoughts. So as you read this sentence are you ‘hearing’ the words just as the mind’s eye ‘sees’ things. Some people don’t and I find that even more mind bending than the aphantasia.

Nope I'm not hearing words at all. I'm reading them

 

[emerald green]

What I think he means is do you ‘hear’ your thoughts. So as you read this sentence are you ‘hearing’ the words just as the mind’s eye ‘sees’ things. Some people don’t and I find that even more mind bending than the aphantasia.

yep, thats what I meant, and your last sentence is why I mentioned it. Another mind bending one, is that blind people dont see "black".... which Ive been led to believe is the case...

If someone had aphantasia and also lacked an inner voice…. I wonder how the fuck they’d be?

I mean if you can neither think in images nor think in ‘narrative’, how would you think at all?

Exactly! Head hurting!

 

[joethehibby]

Science and the expertise of surgeons will one day be able to physically treat these neuropathic conditions, I’m sure of it . Self imposed daftness not so much

 

[Bangkokhibby]

It seems I neither hear nor see internally. I just am. Probably make a good Buddhist monk.

 

[joethehibby]

What I think he means is do you ‘hear’ your thoughts. So as you read this sentence are you ‘hearing’ the words just as the mind’s eye ‘sees’ things. Some people don’t and I find that even more mind bending than the aphantasia.

A parralel of Yuri Gellers spoon bending mibby

 

[egb_hibs]

Another mind bending one, is that blind people dont see "black".... which Ive been led to believe is the case...

what do they see? There must surely be a difference between those born blind and those who go blind ?

 

[emerald green]

what do they see? There must surely be a difference between those born blind and those who go blind ?

Yes, cant actually remember if its different for those folk who unfortunately go blind, as opposed to those who have always been blind. I think that folk who have been completely blind from the outset, have no understanding (for want of a better word) of the concept of black.

 

[HaarlemShuffler]

Yes, cant actually remember if its different for those folk who unfortunately go blind, as opposed to those who have always been blind. I think that folk who have been completely blind from the outset, have no understanding (for want of a better word) of the concept of black.

Colour in the rgb hex values used on the Web reflect the lack of any colour in black. The hex system is based on sixteen, not decimal, so 0-9 are the same in both but dec 10 is hex a, dec 11 is b etc up to f= 16)

#ffffff = white
#000000 = black

Might be relevant or just ironic?

 

[egb_hibs]

Yes, cant actually remember if its different for those folk who unfortunately go blind, as opposed to those who have always been blind. I think that folk who have been completely blind from the outset, have no understanding (for want of a better word) of the concept of black.

Well that being the case, is it that they don’t see black, or what they see they don’t conceptualise as black? This is quite disturbing now I think about it. Are they just not in that dimension at all, so speak, is there not even a perception of nothing / black?

You’ve rattled me here, EGers

 

[egb_hibs]

Colour in the rgb hex values used on the Web reflect the lack of any colour in black. The hex system is based on sixteen, not decimal, so 0-9 are the same in both but dec 10 is hex a, dec 11 is b etc up to f= 16)

#ffffff = white
#000000 = black

Might be relevant or just ironic?

I sort of understand this black and white not being colours, but I also basically don’t.

If you wear black jeans and a white tee shirt, how are your clothes less coloured than a chap with blue jeans and a green tee shirt.

Okay you can’t get shades of black or white, but couldn’t black plausibly argue that the so called grey tones are shades of black ? Perhaps white could claim that too.

This thread has me reeling now. Mah engines cannae take it captin

 

[Doc Shrink]

White is a mix of all colours of the visible spectrum.

Black is without milk.
Simples.

 

[egb_hibs]

I wonder if your brain just "files" things away and doesnt access as theres no danger to you, if that makes sense... like its in the miscellaneous folder in your bonce?

Something maybe similar your brain does do, is not ‘record’ repeated experiences the same as new ones. So for example, if you make the same walk or bus trip to work everyday, you might find the details of that trip hard to recall if you give it a bash. But if something novel happens en route, you’ll remember it a lot better.

This can make it seem like time lasts longer if you’re having new experiences (and one reason it did so when you were a kid when so much more is new) where if you do the same routine every day, it may drag, but it also feels like the weeks just fly by.

 

[Dub]

Heard of it? Got it?
I didn't know this condition had a name until recently. Mine has got much worse over the years. It's basically an inability to picture anything really in your head. I had no bother with the wank bank as a teenager but nothing sticks now.
Most troublesome is routes. I just can't picture more than maybe a half a mile ahead, even on routes I drive every day. I also often 100% feel the wrong way is the right way if I'm not too familiar with the area.
Added to that I can't estimate distance or length. From a kitchen worktop for example to the distance to the shops....complete blank.

Years ago, poss around 35. my boss sent me to a Mindstore seminar held by a complete knobhead called Jack Black [not the actor, he's cool as fukk] who hailed from Glasgow and took to interspersing his commentary with "dae Edinburgh people no dae that" in an annoying weegie whining voice.

Anyway, he did this thing where you close your eyes and imagine yourself walking along a path made of crazy paving and leading to a house with a roof of any colour you wanted, you go inside and see an alarm clock which you can set so that you don't sleep in the next day - he urged us to do just that [and some kind of sonic shower you could have if you need refreshed].

He told us not to set our alarms as we'd already done that in our mind palaces, anyway, at the end of day 1 I went up to him and said "I'm not seeing any path, or house, or alarm clock or any other bullshit like that" He said "Don't worry, your subconscious will have set your alarm". It hadn't but "luckily" I was so worried about sleeping in I didn't actually get to sleep and when I went in he said "See, I told you it would work"

Sorry to say I lost my rag and told him he was a fukking charlatan at the top of my voice and buggered off home for a kip.

I've maybe always had that Aphantasia thing but it's never done me any harm, ask Shrink.

 

[Doc Shrink]

I can confirm that it wasn't Aphantasia that fucked this man's head up.

 

[egb_hibs]

White is a mix of all colours of the visible spectrum.

So you might claim Doc, but if you mix together a bunch of dark coloured paints, I’m not convinced it’s coming out white. In fact nature gives us evidence without a set of paints at our disposal.

Eat and drink food of every hue, mix it all up in your intestine, wait a while, then expel it. Unless you are a 1970s dug, it is not white

Black is without milk.
Simples.

You can get into trouble asking for black coffee these days. Careful now.

 

[Westside Green]

I see and hear nothing in my head, don't know if I ever have. Dreams remembered are very rare.

 

[Bangkokhibby]

I see and hear nothing in my head, don't know if I ever have. Dreams remembered are very rare.

Can you estimate measurement/distance? Not sure if this is part of it or a separate issue.