David Barksdale

I found out about aphantasia a few years ago during a family conversation when my sister asked one of those simple “picture this in your mind” questions so many here also mentioned. It became clear that I wasn’t experiencing anything visually at all. I was just… thinking about it. That realization turned into a series of conversations, and we eventually discovered that three of us siblings have it, along with our mom, who only learned about it in her late 80s. At first, it was surprising more than anything. I had gone my entire life assuming that phrases like “visualize this” were just metaphors. Realizing that other people actually see images in their mind was fascinating. Since then, I’ve spent more time reflecting on how my brain works. I don’t experience mental imagery, but I do think in very structured, conceptual ways, almost like working through systems, relationships, and abstractions rather than pictures. It feels efficient, and honestly, it’s a way of thinking I’ve come to really appreciate. I suspect it’s shaped how I problem-solve, how I approach work, and even how I process experiences. Would I be curious to experience visualization? Absolutely. But I wouldn’t trade the way my mind currently works. There’s something I value about the clarity and structure it brings. For me, discovering aphantasia hasn’t been a negative at all...it’s been a lens. It’s helped me better understand myself and given me a new appreciation for the different ways people experience the world. Now it’s less about what’s “missing” and more about learning how to optimize the way I’m wired.

I had to laugh at the LoTR comment. My wife loved those books so much and I tried so many times to read them, but just couldn't get through the descriptions. I've been an avid reader since my teens and have read many series in that genre, but LoTR is tough for me. It wasn't until a few years ago that I understood how much aphantasia played a part in that for me. It didn't even register that immersion is the primary/whole goal for so many readers out there, and the rich descriptions and almost anthropology approach Tolkein took helps readers get truly immersed in that world and story. For me, personally, it takes away from the aspects of these series and books that I have always been drawn to. My mind has already categorized the scene and setting, I understand the important meta data, and am ready for character development, plot progression, internalization, etc and I'm as immersed as much as I possibly can be already in the scenery and images