Hi Jess, Thanks for being willing to share this difficulty! I have always known I was unable to visualize the way other did and now I know that I am a complete all senses aphant. I am quite intelligent and have been very successful both academically and professionally (I'm retired now). However, there are a number of things that might make one question my intelligence. For instance, I never could memorize the multiplication tables. I finally realized that I could compute the results as fast or faster than most of my friends could recall the memorized answers. Consequently I gave up memorizing them! I think that is connected to aphantasia -- I think. I remember a birthday, well not really, I remember a time when I had a birthday coming up and realized I didn't know how old I was. I put a lot of effort into getting someone to tell me that without having to admit I couldn't remember!! I did finally overhear an adult mentioning that my 13th birthday was coming up. That is all I remember about my 13th birthday! That may have been connected to aphanasia, but I tend to think I just didn't really care that much about it. And Yes, I have always had to think about it to remember which way was right and which was left. I can't say it has been a problem, because I could always figure it out, but even today at 71 I have to think about it. Many tricks: The hand I write with, the way I turn my care into my driveway is what I have been using lately. Is that connected to Aphanasia? I have no idea. By the way, I am very good with directions and have no trouble with North and South etc. But I don't like directions that use landmarks. They just confused the issue. I hope you find something that works for you! :)

I just remember that I write with my right hand and over time your brain just 'memorizes' it.

Yes I have aphantasia and struggle with my right from left. Every time someone just tells me to picture an L and I explain that if I think about it I can obviously figure it out eventually, but if I am put on the spot I will just guess. My brother use to make fun of me because he claimed 100% of the time when I guess I am wrong. I am graduating in 2 months with a degree in chemical engineering, so I do not consider myself a dumb person, but some very simple things like Left vs. Right are very hard for me.

What hand do you use for writing? What is your dominant hand? Does using that as an indicator not help?

It sounds like left-right confusion to me. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-asymmetric-brain/201903/why-do-i-confuse-left-and-right

Hi Jess, Thanks for being willing to share this difficulty! I have always known I was unable to visualize the way other did and now I know that I am a complete all senses aphant. I am quite intelligent and have been very successful both academically and professionally (I'm retired now). However, there are a number of things that might make one question my intelligence. For instance, I never could memorize the multiplication tables. I finally realized that I could compute the results as fast or faster than most of my friends could recall the memorized answers. Consequently I gave up memorizing them! I think that is connected to aphantasia -- I think. I remember a birthday, well not really, I remember a time when I had a birthday coming up and realized I didn't know how old I was. I put a lot of effort into getting someone to tell me that without having to admit I couldn't remember!! I did finally overhear an adult mentioning that my 13th birthday was coming up. That is all I remember about my 13th birthday! That may have been connected to aphanasia, but I tend to think I just didn't really care that much about it. And Yes, I have always had to think about it to remember which way was right and which was left. I can't say it has been a problem, because I could always figure it out, but even today at 71 I have to think about it. Many tricks: The hand I write with, the way I turn my care into my driveway is what I have been using lately. Is that connected to Aphanasia? I have no idea. By the way, I am very good with directions and have no trouble with North and South etc. But I don't like directions that use landmarks. They just confused the issue. I hope you find something that works for you! :)

I just remember that I write with my right hand and over time your brain just 'memorizes' it.

Yes I have aphantasia and struggle with my right from left. Every time someone just tells me to picture an L and I explain that if I think about it I can obviously figure it out eventually, but if I am put on the spot I will just guess. My brother use to make fun of me because he claimed 100% of the time when I guess I am wrong. I am graduating in 2 months with a degree in chemical engineering, so I do not consider myself a dumb person, but some very simple things like Left vs. Right are very hard for me.

What hand do you use for writing? What is your dominant hand? Does using that as an indicator not help?

It sounds like left-right confusion to me. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-asymmetric-brain/201903/why-do-i-confuse-left-and-right