Faythe Kneice

I have total aphantasia (complete aphantasia?). If I'm looking at people, I know who they are. Might not remember their name, but I know who they are. But if I turn my back on them, I can't describe them. Literally out of sight, out of mind. I might say their skin color or hair style vagally. If they had glasses or a beard. Maybe dark or light hair color. But I can't give details. I can't describe my own face unless I'm looking in the mirror. For me, it's mainly a 'I know it when I see it in the right context'. If I run into someone I see at church each week at the pool, I'd go 'I know you from somewhere, who are you?' If it's someone that I've only seen once, then no, I don't know their face.

Was listening to some gamers on Youtube talking about it. Of the three, one has hyper and the other two has aphan. Listened for about five to ten minutes before stopping the video to look Aphantasia up. Having Total Aphantasia explains so much to me. How a lot of things I remember is in context: I can recognize people, but if it's not at the place I usually see them, they are out of context and end up with a 'I know you from somewhere...' I've always had trouble with spelling and said 'I don't know how it's spelled, but it's not that way.' I very much do not trust my memory and prefer important things written down or they will not be retained.I've always thought I have a very vibrant imagination. I love reading and I attempt to write fiction for fun. But I've had trouble at times, especially with describing characters. I need to see them to be able to describe them, but I can't draw them without a description. I tend to have a 'I know what it needs to be/look like/vibe, but I'm not sure how to get there.' Everything is, not audio words, but more written? Like I don't think the 'mental voice' sounds like my 'verbal voice'. I'm not actually hearing anything. But I'm still forming words and making mental sentences. Writing things down on the chalkboard of my brain, and erasing it just as easily.I will say though, it is nice to be able to just close my eyes when I'm overstimulated and simply 'turn off' one of my senses. To get a mental 'Pause'.