Discussion Do you have an Imagination?

[GoSan1]

I am not able to imagine things, as I have something called "aphantasia". Aphantasia is a condition where one cannot create images in his head and only sees black when closing their eyes. This can be a blessing, but it is also a curse. I cannot see disturbing things again, so the images do not haunt me. Neither can I imagine dying which I would probably do often these last few months if I were able to.

But I also cannot see past experiences or people or daydream about my dream life. It's all just thoughts and darkness. At best I see a 2 in the below chart if I look at something for long enough, but I could never change the mental image on command. So once I would drink the SN I have, I couldn't even imagine my brother smiling as to lighten up the moment. It would just be darkness, the reality of no help and suffering.

Now I would like to know if you all are able to imagine things and to what extent.
Please look at the image below, try to imagine it, and then vote!

 

[Bootleg Astolfo]

I refuse to use my imagination powers for the good of mankind ! It's usefull for random art stuff though lol

 

[GoSan1]

I refuse to use my imagination powers for the good of mankind ! It's usefull for random art stuff though lol

May I ask how much it helps you in doing art? I am terrible at art even though I enjoy it, so that might be a factor lol

 

[Bootleg Astolfo]

May I ask how much it helps you in doing art? I am terrible at art even though I enjoy it, so that might be a factor lol

It mainly helps with not needing to draw/sketch my sewing projects, since i can kinda just envision how it's gonna look and what i want lol.

 

[Namelesa]

I choose 5-6 as I have a good imagination and can see a clear red star in my head. It has definitely been helpful in being creative with what I make, especially with my game development and some of my dreams can be so wacky but it has hurt me sometimes with envisioning scenarios and future actions that could go terribly wrong which can cause me to catastrophize and see disturbing scenes in my head.

 

[Kilojewel]

Probably like a 4 or a 5. I have really bad working memory so I have a very difficult time holding on to thoughts. I think I'd be better at imagining things If this wasn't the case.

 

[3xhilarati0n]

I used to be able to vividly imagine anything I wanted as a child and make up entire movies in my head that actually displayed in my mind. I'm not sure when exactly I entirely lost that ability but ever since it went away it's been nothing but empty and black even when I try my hardest to imagine things.

 

[ma0]

I think I'm a 5 or 6. I can imagine very vivid images in my head, but in recent weeks I've literally only used it to play out my ideal CTB scenario, lmao.

 

[EvisceratedJester]

I would say that I have a pretty good imagination.

 

[Sutter]

Permanent.

Don't remember a dream, they left long ago. Dont think in words, more images, sometimes a spatial sense, others more a dancing of images that often bring friends and then I'm left with the mess of words to lay a path back to the beginning for another to tread.

Not a great imaginer, but it gets practiced a lot….slather peanut butter on a tree and put birdseed in it on a bitter cold day to find a sparrow with grit and entertain a cat. Um..so not great but flowing on the imagination to reality front.

Permanently a pain to the truly enlightened and the downtrodden. Like saying go sand the Sahara with the stubble feel of a cats tongue, let me know when the sand is smooth, turned to glass by the fire of frustration because when you are done an image might remain.

 

[GoSan1]

I choose 5-6 as I have a good imagination and can see a clear red star in my head. It has definitely been helpful in being creative with what I make, especially with my game development and some of my dreams can be so wacky but it has hurt me sometimes with envisioning scenarios and future actions that could go terribly wrong which can cause me to catastrophize and see disturbing scenes in my head.

Thats one of the very few things that make it a good thing, I can just think of how terrible that would be...

Probably like a 4 or a 5. I have really bad working memory so I have a very difficult time holding on to thoughts. I think I'd be better at imagining things If this wasn't the case.

I see, so memory might be another aspect to it, but I do have a somewhat good memory...

I used to be able to vividly imagine anything I wanted as a child and make up entire movies in my head that actually displayed in my mind. I'm not sure when exactly I entirely lost that ability but ever since it went away it's been nothing but empty and black even when I try my hardest to imagine things.

Aphantasia it is for us. I am pretty sure I wasn't able to do it as a child though...

I think I'm a 5 or 6. I can imagine very vivid images in my head, but in recent weeks I've literally only used it to play out my ideal CTB scenario, lmao.

That would probably be my daily routine for the past months lol

I would say that I have a pretty good imagination.

I hope it treats you well! :)

Permanent.

Don't remember a dream, they left long ago. Dont think in words, more images, sometimes a spatial sense, others more a dancing of images that often bring friends and then I'm left with the mess of words to lay a path back to the beginning for another to tread.

Not a great imaginer, but it gets practiced a lot….slather peanut butter on a tree and put birdseed in it on a bitter cold day to find a sparrow with grit and entertain a cat. Um..so not great but flowing on the imagination to reality front.

Permanently a pain to the truly enlightened and the downtrodden. Like saying go sand the Sahara with the stubble feel of a cats tongue, let me know when the sand is smooth, turned to glass by the fire of frustration because when you are done an image might remain.

That sounds really creative, I couldn't think of creating such a creative text. It must be due to the imagination xD

 

[SVEN]

I would say that I have a pretty good imagination.

Minions are cannibals ? Gosh, you surely got an immense imagination lady !

 

[Electra]

Depends on my mood and overall energy leveld tbh

 

[GoSan1]

Depends on my mood and overall energy leveld tbh

Oh interesting, so the mood can play a role as well! Thanks for the info!

 

[kunikuzushi]

I did not realize people could actually see a red star when they close their eyes if they imagine it. I can only think of a description of something but not see it. I guess I have aphantasia.

 

[avoid]

Incidentally, TED Education released a video on this topic yesterday.

 

[GoSan1]

I did not realize people could actually see a red star when they close their eyes if they imagine it. I can only think of a description of something but not see it. I guess I have aphantasia.

Welcome to the club, and also sorry for missing out as well. Can't tell if it's a good or bad thing...

Incidentally, TED Education released a video on this topic yesterday.

That's nice, barely any people actually know that this exists or that they even have it! I only realized it when I was 16 and have gotten into hypnosis. I always thought that when they say "imagine yourself standing next to a waterfall" or something like that, that it was a metaphor... Shocked me and also made me very sad as my name literally means Dreamer, yet I am unable to daydream or lucid dream at all.

Well life sucks.

 

[Languish]

Do you dream?

 

[GoSan1]

Do you dream?

I do, but rarely and if I do I tend to forget them fast as I cannot recreate them in my head. They are often chaotic too and rarely have meaning besides a few rare times. I dreamt that I was too late for vacational college and couldn't sleep anymore...

 

[SoulWhisperer]

I can, voluntarily or not, created images of me dying in my head. Sometimes it's hell, sometimes it's not. Sometimes it's paranoia, other times not. Regardless, I just use it to picture realistic scenarios of what would happen if I did XYZ.

 

[SilentSadness]

I can imagine a flickering white star but not a red star. Sadly I don't really have control over my mind and have OCD so I can't control intrusive thoughts but fortunately my mind isn't clear enough so I can often pretend it's something else.

 

[GoSan1]

I can, voluntarily or not, created images of me dying in my head. Sometimes it's hell, sometimes it's not. Sometimes it's paranoia, other times not. Regardless, I just use it to picture realistic scenarios of what would happen if I did XYZ.

These seem to be the bad aspects of having an imagination.

I can imagine a flickering white star but not a red star. Sadly I don't really have control over my mind and have OCD so I can't control intrusive thoughts but fortunately my mind isn't clear enough so I can often pretend it's something else.

I am very sorry to hear that, intrusive thoughts can be very scary sometimes.

 

[Codename_Joryu]

What about sounds? Are you able to imagine them?

 

[GoSan1]

What about sounds? Are you able to imagine them?

There is no way you can imagine sounds?! How does that even work? Is it the exact same sound just in your head?

 

[Codename_Joryu]

There is no way you can imagine sounds?! How does that even work? Is it the exact same sound just in your head?

Yeah, like imagining someone speaking certain words to you, or having a song playing in your head.

 

[GoSan1]

Yeah, like imagining someone speaking certain words to you, or having a song playing in your head.

That's actually amazing and very terrifying as well. No wonder that PTSD and all imaginative sicknesses are so bad!

 

[OptingOutSmiling]

I think I'm at a 7 if that's possible, and if I understand correctly. It's too vivid at times, and as @Electra said also depends on my mood. The problem is I don't always have control, as in it can take over my mind. I believe bad stuff will happen the way I imagine, and it influences my focus or ability to concentrate when needed. I get so caught up in my bad imagination that I'm incapable of believing good stuff can happen. It's more than worry or dread, e.g., I imagine I will have to ctb and see me doing it, because in my imagination I see certain things happening leading up to it. I go into this dark place when it gets bad, and if by luck something better happens it brings me back up to ground level for the circle to repeat itself. I seldom allow myself to imagine good things, maybe because I'm afraid if they won't happen, the dark pit would become deeper and suck me in, literally. Some people have said I'm in a state of denial, that I believe my own world over the real world, and I also feel as if I live in an unreality. Up until recently, I just thought it was normal to see things play out in my mind. Now I'm not so sure anymore, because sometimes I have difficulty knowing what is real or not. Sorry if I misunderstood, it's just the way I see my imagination.

 

[GoSan1]

I think I'm at a 7 if that's possible, and if I understand correctly. It's too vivid at times, and as @Electra said also depends on my mood. The problem is I don't always have control, as in it can take over my mind. I believe bad stuff will happen the way I imagine, and it influences my focus or ability to concentrate when needed. I get so caught up in my bad imagination that I'm incapable of believing good stuff can happen. It's more than worry or dread, e.g., I imagine I will have to ctb and see me doing it, because in my imagination I see certain things happening leading up to it. I go into this dark place when it gets bad, and if by luck something better happens it brings me back up to ground level for the circle to repeat itself. I seldom allow myself to imagine good things, maybe because I'm afraid if they won't happen, the dark pit would become deeper and suck me in, literally. Some people have said I'm in a state of denial, that I believe my own world over the real world, and I also feel as if I live in an unreality. Up until recently, I just thought it was normal to see things play out in my mind. Now I'm not so sure anymore, because sometimes I have difficulty knowing what is real or not. Sorry if I misunderstood, it's just the way I see my imagination.

I am very sorry to hear that. Imagination should be a beautiful thing, and not something dragging one into an even deeper pit of darkness and suffering. People saying such a thing have no clue how depression and suicidality affect a person, and think it's just a "hard time". If you ever need to talk or vent, my DMS are open as long as I am alive lol.

 

[OptingOutSmiling]

I am very sorry to hear that. Imagination should be a beautiful thing, and not something dragging one into an even deeper pit of darkness and suffering. People saying such a thing have no clue how depression and suicidality affect a person, and think it's just a "hard time". If you ever need to talk or vent, my DMS are open as long as I am alive lol.

Thanks GoSan, you are very kind. Same to you as for DMs, maybe we are both cursed on the opposite ends of the same thing

 

[Forveleth]

Maladaptive daydreamer for most of my life. Yeah, my imagination is cranked to 11.