Can you visualize in your mind?

[Depressed_Kettle]

People who have aphantasia can't visualize, they can't see things in their mind. People who can visualize can literally see things as if they are actually there, at least that's my understanding of it.

I'm curious how many of you can visualize?

 

[demuic]

I think I have a hard time visualizing things usually. Like if I'm reading a book I usually don't visualize what the characters are doing or anything. I'm not incapable of visualizing, though.

 

[logan]

I can do that very well.

But that is often a problem because you can also visualise negative things very realistically.

If you use this technique positively, you can achieve a lot with it.

 

[Desperdición]

I remember when I was a hormonal adolescent, that capacity skyrocketed by a thousand during a time when I decided not to watch porn.

 

[Fragile]

Yes, very vividly.

 

[Celerity]

As a kid and young teen, most of my thoughts were visual rather than the monologue most people seem to have.

 

[Life_and_Death]

Yeah. When i was younger i always seemed to have more imagination then basically everyone (that i noticed to be fair) and now that im older that hasnt changed just turned into hallucinations ect (its difficult to explain the ect but im sure theres a word for it)

 

[Celerity]

I think I have a hard time visualizing things usually. Like if I'm reading a book I usually don't visualize what the characters are doing or anything. I'm not incapable of visualizing, though.

Ouch. Do you enjoy reading fiction? That would take the joy out of it for me.

 

[demuic]

Ouch. Do you enjoy reading fiction? That would take the joy out of it for me.

Yes, I read all the time.

 

[Celerity]

Yes, I read all the time.

Well, to each their own, I guess.

 

[FuneralCry]

I can visualize images in my mind, but I struggle with faces a little bit, not everybody's face but some people for some strange reason.

 

[TheSoulless]

Not well. I loved reading as a kid, but I never really digested what I was reading because I couldn't visualize the things in the books. Usually when I read, I can only see cartoonish characters in my mind.

 

[hʚll]

i usually visualize the worst scenarios, or make up very painful stories in my mind. i try to feel the pain of the characters of the story. i cry because of things i see in my mind that can possibly exist. i don't know why i do that, but it bothers me because maybe what i see in my mind is happening for real somewhere far from me i don't know

 

[Celerity]

Not well. I loved reading as a kid, but I never really digested what I was reading because I couldn't visualize the things in the books. Usually when I read, I can only see cartoonish characters in my mind.

Speaking of cartoons, I used to imagine the Harry Potter characters as Dragon Ball Z characters when I was a kid.

 

[TooConscious]

No, my third eye is incredibly calcified, just the way I like it, why would I want to see more false love, hope in such a sick evil bastard cruel universe.
I don't know why anyone wants to meditate in hyperspace and pretend existence is good.

 

[Celerity]

No, my third eye is incredibly calcified, just the way I like it, why would I want to see more false love, hope in such a sick evil bastard cruel universe.
I don't know why anyone wants to meditate in hyperspace and pretend existence is good.

So you can't see images in your mind at all? Also, I agree.

 

[GenesAndEnvironment]

I can, I just never do. Reading books now, so forced to do it (how tf do u read btw).

 

[TooConscious]

So you can't see images in your mind at all? Also, I agree.

Nope, I can dream but it's always nightmare, terror or emotional trauma and I don't know how we compare the imagery in a dream here?
But when I try to visualise something I don't seem to be connected with imagination 'processors' and my graphics card is extremely basic and black and white for lack of better analogy.
I can barely even remember faces until I see them regularly for a while.

 

[Celerity]

Nope, I can dream but it's always nightmare, terror or emotional trauma and I don't know how we compare the imagery in a dream here?
But when I try to visualise something I don't seem to be connected with imagination 'processors' and my graphics card is extremely basic and black and white for lack of better analogy.
I can barely even remember faces until I see them regularly for a while.

Wow. I can't imagine. I am very good at remembering faces. I'm sorry visualization is so painful for you. Maybe it is better that you struggle with it if it causes problems.

 

[TheSoulless]

Speaking of cartoons, I used to imagine the Harry Potter characters as Dragon Ball Z characters when I was a kid.

Haha, that's basically what I do too! I associate a book character with a comic or animation character and just can't come up with an actual face in my mind.

 

[Celerity]

Haha, that's basically what I do too! I associate a book character with a comic or animation character and just can't come up with an actual face in my mind.

Yeah, I cannot imagine the face of a person I've never seen before.

 

[lofticries]

i have a huge imagination. I can imagine taste, smell,sound and pretty much whatever I really want. There was a time when I was young where I could spend almost a whole day inside my head in my own lil world. Now I just imagine the worse things to come and terrible scenarios with each choice I make.

 

[arie]

i have a huge imagination. I can imagine taste, smell,sound and pretty much whatever I really want. There was a time when I was young where I could spend almost a whole day inside my head in my own lil world. Now I just imagine the worse things to come and terrible scenarios with each choice I make.

Would you prefer not having the ability to imagine anything? Personally I can't imagine anything (visual, smell, etc.) but I would love to be able to visualize stuff.

Yes, very vividly.

How big of a role would visualizing stuff be in your life? Would you be able to live without it?

 

[All Things Must Pass]

Yes. Not for long, unfortunately.

 

[narval]

I guess that, unless aphantasia or so(as said OP), more or less all can visualize

 

[Flau]

It's so awesome to be able to do that. I don't know but personally I enjoy it. Sometimes my brain shuts down for a little bit, i lose focuz in my eyes and see things right before me almost clear and vivid. My dreams are so colorful, interesting and realistic

 

[Hewburt]

Most of the time, the best I can do is 2. Once in a while I will smoke DMT through a vape pen and find that I am always able to visualize at level 6 for a while after but it eventually returns to level 2 after a few weeks or so. I always thought it was pretty cool how that happens.

 

[Depressed_Kettle]

Most of the time, the best I can do is 2. Once in a while I will smoke DMT through a vape pen and find that I am always able to visualize at level 6 for a while after but it eventually returns to level 2 after a few weeks or so. I always thought it was pretty cool how that happens.

Mine was probably at a 5 after DXM but it was quite intense.