I am retired from a successful career and have always found eye contact uncomfortable even with loved ones. However, after having 2 grandsons diagnosed as autistic I did a little research and came to believe that I am most likely very low on the autism spectrum myself. In fact, I had absolutely no prior knowledge about aphantasia until I started researching autism and when I found out that many autistics also have aphantasia, and what it was, a light bulb went off in my head, but of course I couldn’t see it LOL.

Yes, but it always seems like a demand on my attention, rather than focusing on what they want to say. Like they demand my affirmation too. Like insisting i take their fonecalls, rather than responding to texts on my schedule.

Yes, I've always had problems with eye contact. When I'm talking to someone, after the initial eye contact I feel that I need to look away, but then I become self-concisous of not looking at them and it just makes it worse. I have total aphantasia, a severely deficient autobiographical memory, ADHD and dyslexia. Whether these are a disability, I don’t know as I have managed to be successfully employed for 45 years without anyone knowing about these (although I do think I have been regarded as being unsocial). I do however find them socially isolating because I can’t join in conversations as I can’t remember details of any events, family, movies, books, music, etc, etc.

Yes, I've always had a problem with eye contact. I didn't connect it to my aphantasia, nor do I see why they should be connected. Does anyone have an idea why they should be? As to aphantasia being a disability, there I agree entirely with Jeff Cagan. Since I have come to know of it, one of the features about aphantasia that troubles me the most is the fact that I cannot remember now what my wife looked like. Luckily I took lots of photos of her, but after she died in Switzerland with assistance (because of very advanced MS), one of the most troubling things was my inability to call her up to my mind's eye. This for me is a deeply negative aspect of aphantasia. In addition to not having imagery, it is hard now for me to remember people who have died, since memory, so far as I can tell, is closely allied to imagery, so that seems to explain why my memory of the past is so desolate. I have known for years that I don't have mental imagery, but didn't know until the last five years or so that the condition had a name.

I have full multisensory aphantasia plus Severely Deficient Autobiographical Memory (which I discovered through this site) and I was very happy to learn about both of these neurological differences as it has helped me to understand part of why I have always seen the world somewhat differently. However I can't recall having had any particular problems with eye contact once I'd left a very shy childhood behind (whenever that was :-)) But perhaps it all depends on what is the cultural norm. Here in England we are not expected to engage strangers with full eye contact, but I've been told that in the US the reverse is true. For about 25 years much of my life was spent working with very young children, so eye contact was an important part of the job.

I am a 57 year old male that just found out I had aphantasia about 3 months ago. I have always had trouble with eye contact. From what I've gathered so far, I am about as extreme as it gets. No minds eye at all, haven't ever read a book and have trouble following a movie or show with multiple characters. I also believe it has been the reason behind anxiety and depression issues. I don't know if it should or should not be a disease, but I do know for me it has been a disability.

Aphant here. Your comment caught my attention since my loved ones often comment that I do not look at them or look them in the eyes when I am speaking with them. I feel like they are asking me to stare them down and that they want to hold eye contact far too long for my comfort. I am never-the-less good at looking at people in a group in the eyes while giving a talk. It seems more comfortable when people are at a distance.

Interesting question. Until I was in my late 40's/early 50's, I too had a hard time meeting people's eyes. Especially as a young teenager. I mostly attributed it to 'fear' from childhood experiences, but perhaps there is a correlation with aphantasia too. Today things are different, but much has changed in my life and in me internally. I don't have trouble anymore looking people in the eye, but I am conscious of when it's socially necessary to do so.

I am retired from a successful career and have always found eye contact uncomfortable even with loved ones. However, after having 2 grandsons diagnosed as autistic I did a little research and came to believe that I am most likely very low on the autism spectrum myself. In fact, I had absolutely no prior knowledge about aphantasia until I started researching autism and when I found out that many autistics also have aphantasia, and what it was, a light bulb went off in my head, but of course I couldn’t see it LOL.

Yes, but it always seems like a demand on my attention, rather than focusing on what they want to say. Like they demand my affirmation too. Like insisting i take their fonecalls, rather than responding to texts on my schedule.

Yes, I've always had problems with eye contact. When I'm talking to someone, after the initial eye contact I feel that I need to look away, but then I become self-concisous of not looking at them and it just makes it worse. I have total aphantasia, a severely deficient autobiographical memory, ADHD and dyslexia. Whether these are a disability, I don’t know as I have managed to be successfully employed for 45 years without anyone knowing about these (although I do think I have been regarded as being unsocial). I do however find them socially isolating because I can’t join in conversations as I can’t remember details of any events, family, movies, books, music, etc, etc.

Yes, I've always had a problem with eye contact. I didn't connect it to my aphantasia, nor do I see why they should be connected. Does anyone have an idea why they should be? As to aphantasia being a disability, there I agree entirely with Jeff Cagan. Since I have come to know of it, one of the features about aphantasia that troubles me the most is the fact that I cannot remember now what my wife looked like. Luckily I took lots of photos of her, but after she died in Switzerland with assistance (because of very advanced MS), one of the most troubling things was my inability to call her up to my mind's eye. This for me is a deeply negative aspect of aphantasia. In addition to not having imagery, it is hard now for me to remember people who have died, since memory, so far as I can tell, is closely allied to imagery, so that seems to explain why my memory of the past is so desolate. I have known for years that I don't have mental imagery, but didn't know until the last five years or so that the condition had a name.

I have full multisensory aphantasia plus Severely Deficient Autobiographical Memory (which I discovered through this site) and I was very happy to learn about both of these neurological differences as it has helped me to understand part of why I have always seen the world somewhat differently. However I can't recall having had any particular problems with eye contact once I'd left a very shy childhood behind (whenever that was :-)) But perhaps it all depends on what is the cultural norm. Here in England we are not expected to engage strangers with full eye contact, but I've been told that in the US the reverse is true. For about 25 years much of my life was spent working with very young children, so eye contact was an important part of the job.

I am a 57 year old male that just found out I had aphantasia about 3 months ago. I have always had trouble with eye contact. From what I've gathered so far, I am about as extreme as it gets. No minds eye at all, haven't ever read a book and have trouble following a movie or show with multiple characters. I also believe it has been the reason behind anxiety and depression issues. I don't know if it should or should not be a disease, but I do know for me it has been a disability.

Aphant here. Your comment caught my attention since my loved ones often comment that I do not look at them or look them in the eyes when I am speaking with them. I feel like they are asking me to stare them down and that they want to hold eye contact far too long for my comfort. I am never-the-less good at looking at people in a group in the eyes while giving a talk. It seems more comfortable when people are at a distance.

Interesting question. Until I was in my late 40's/early 50's, I too had a hard time meeting people's eyes. Especially as a young teenager. I mostly attributed it to 'fear' from childhood experiences, but perhaps there is a correlation with aphantasia too. Today things are different, but much has changed in my life and in me internally. I don't have trouble anymore looking people in the eye, but I am conscious of when it's socially necessary to do so.