I’m still reeling from amazement to accidentally learn (yesterday) I have always had aphantasia. Naturally I’ve spent nearly the past 24 hours trying desperately o conjure an image-any image; to no avail. I’m 76, live in northern New England, grew up in California, France,Italy, & Switzerland. I’m retired, but worked as a newspaper editor of a small weekly paper, public relations writer, fine arts & craft shop manager, DHHS field worker, policy writer, & manager. I also spent a summer building double wide mobile home rafters in the CA desert. If I hadn’t been the only female and only 20 years old, I might have expired in that job, but as it was, I had lots of “assistance.” I now garden, read, and avidly watch the birds & wildlife, e.g., hummingbirds to bears, and take & edit photos every day. Unfortunately I also collect things-from rocks to delicate & elegant demitasse cups/saucers. I am married and have a Soft Coated Wheaten Terror named Greta. We hike in our environs with Greta and camera. We travel whenever health and whim unite. And, now I must go and read all i can find on aphantasia. The name, BTW, sounds like an April Fools Joke, and having discovered my association with it on April Fools makes me wonder…. But then again, I still cannot conjures a single image. I am blaming this for being terrible at math!
I’m still reeling from amazement to accidentally learn (yesterday) I have always had aphantasia. Naturally I’ve spent nearly the past 24 hours trying desperately o conjure an image-any image; to no avail. I’m 76, live in northern New England, grew up in California, France,Italy, & Switzerland. I’m retired, but worked as a newspaper editor of a small weekly paper, public relations writer, fine arts & craft shop manager, DHHS field worker, policy writer, & manager. I also spent a summer building double wide mobile home rafters in the CA desert. If I hadn’t been the only female and only 20 years old, I might have expired in that job, but as it was, I had lots of “assistance.” I now garden, read, and avidly watch the birds & wildlife, e.g., hummingbirds to bears, and take & edit photos every day. Unfortunately I also collect things-from rocks to delicate & elegant demitasse cups/saucers. I am married and have a Soft Coated Wheaten Terror named Greta. We hike in our environs with Greta and camera. We travel whenever health and whim unite. And, now I must go and read all i can find on aphantasia. The name, BTW, sounds like an April Fools Joke, and having discovered my association with it on April Fools makes me wonder…. But then again, I still cannot conjures a single image. I am blaming this for being terrible at math!
I just learned today that I have aphantasia so my mind is pretty blown until I read more. But, to address your question, I have similar ‘visions’ just before i fall asleep. I just discovered this in the past year or so. I have to work at it, i.e. concentrate on the blankness of closed eyes & keep my eyes closed. Sometimes, not always, very bright & vivid colored images will come into focus. They vary from geometric shapes (but not the same as aura of my migraines). Sometimes the colors seem to blend into a face or even tiny vignette. They disappear the minute I open my eyes. I can’t seem to hold onto it very long either-mere seconds.when I dream (rare) I never recognize the people or places.
I just learned today that I have aphantasia so my mind is pretty blown until I read more. But, to address your question, I have similar ‘visions’ just before i fall asleep. I just discovered this in the past year or so. I have to work at it, i.e. concentrate on the blankness of closed eyes & keep my eyes closed. Sometimes, not always, very bright & vivid colored images will come into focus. They vary from geometric shapes (but not the same as aura of my migraines). Sometimes the colors seem to blend into a face or even tiny vignette. They disappear the minute I open my eyes. I can’t seem to hold onto it very long either-mere seconds.when I dream (rare) I never recognize the people or places.