Metaphore to explain aphantasia
1 min readByRyan Quinn
I have been struggling when I try to describe what goes on in my head to others. I feel the words people usually use "see," "visualize, "picture," and others don't really work well. I have said I "see" an apple in my head when I am holding the concept of an apple in my imagination because that is the language that people are accustomed to. I feel that saying I "hold the concept of an apple" does a terrible job describing my experience.
I am trying to find metaphors to explain what "Holding the concept," or "seeing" means to me. For me there is sort of an impression in space but without any images. These are the metaphors I have come up with in an attempt to explain the apple in my minds "eye".
Solid air
Like a stick of chalk in a glass of milk
An apple of smoke in thick fog
A video game model without its skin/texture
Wonder Woman's invisible jet
My favorite: Just the illusory shape in Kanizsa Triangle.
https://www.illusionsindex.org/i/kanizsa-triangle
Has anyone else come up with these metaphors in an attempt to explain your experience