Your choice of words interesting “picture” instead of “see”. I’m 65 and only recently became aware of that I have full aphantasia. I’ve been trying to choose words that fit better than “see.” Most often I’ve been replacing “see” with “remember.”  I “know” what things look like, and I don’t need to “see” them to describe something. 

It’s the same with me. I have no problem with drawing shapes, describing them or with spatial orientation or anything like that. I verbally guided other people to do visualization exercises – but I can’t create images in my mind … for me it’s something like a concept …  Mind’s Eye,Visualization and Memory = void (?) VVIQ Test = No image at all, I only “know” I am thinking of the object. I "know" the characteristics (color, shape) of the object.  

I really like your statement “I feel like I can almost picture it further back in my mind. It’s more of a concept?”

Hello Nyila, thanks for sharing your experience! Most people physically see black when their eyes are closed." Visualizing with your mind's eye" is not like real "seeing with your eyes" but comparing the image in your head (if you are able) with how you know it looks in real life can help identify where you might fall on the spectrum of visual imagination. Your point about "almost picturing it" further back in your head is where the important nuance is. It sounds like you may experience more dim or very vague imagery? Which might be indicative of hypophantasia, or "almost aphantasia." We have some great resources you can explore further, I'd recommend: Evaluating the Mind's EyeUnderstanding the Nuances of My AphantasiaDiscovering You: Therapy and Aphantasia Hope these are helpful to you in your self-exploration! You're right, discovering aphantasia, offers us all a window of perspective into our internal worlds to better understand our own minds. Quite fascinating, indeed! 

Your choice of words interesting “picture” instead of “see”. I’m 65 and only recently became aware of that I have full aphantasia. I’ve been trying to choose words that fit better than “see.” Most often I’ve been replacing “see” with “remember.”  I “know” what things look like, and I don’t need to “see” them to describe something. 

It’s the same with me. I have no problem with drawing shapes, describing them or with spatial orientation or anything like that. I verbally guided other people to do visualization exercises – but I can’t create images in my mind … for me it’s something like a concept …  Mind’s Eye,Visualization and Memory = void (?) VVIQ Test = No image at all, I only “know” I am thinking of the object. I "know" the characteristics (color, shape) of the object.  

I really like your statement “I feel like I can almost picture it further back in my mind. It’s more of a concept?”

Hello Nyila, thanks for sharing your experience! Most people physically see black when their eyes are closed." Visualizing with your mind's eye" is not like real "seeing with your eyes" but comparing the image in your head (if you are able) with how you know it looks in real life can help identify where you might fall on the spectrum of visual imagination. Your point about "almost picturing it" further back in your head is where the important nuance is. It sounds like you may experience more dim or very vague imagery? Which might be indicative of hypophantasia, or "almost aphantasia." We have some great resources you can explore further, I'd recommend: Evaluating the Mind's EyeUnderstanding the Nuances of My AphantasiaDiscovering You: Therapy and Aphantasia Hope these are helpful to you in your self-exploration! You're right, discovering aphantasia, offers us all a window of perspective into our internal worlds to better understand our own minds. Quite fascinating, indeed!