Natasha Greenman

Interesting question. Until I was in my late 40's/early 50's, I too had a hard time meeting people's eyes. Especially as a young teenager. I mostly attributed it to 'fear' from childhood experiences, but perhaps there is a correlation with aphantasia too. Today things are different, but much has changed in my life and in me internally. I don't have trouble anymore looking people in the eye, but I am conscious of when it's socially necessary to do so.

I recently began seeing a therapist to begin understanding/treating my childhood trauma. She indicated that she wanted to try hypnotherapy. I told her of my condition. She'd never heard of Aphantasia...but is now researching so we can come up with a different course of action. I've often wondered if I was born without the ability to visualize, or, if the condition developed to shield myself from trauma by not being able to re-live it visually in my mind. I don't remember ever being able to visualize anything.

I speak 3 languages. All learned as a child. Language learning, for me, doesn't require visual cues, it's all auditory, which I don't have an issue with.