I found out about SDAM recently and it seems like I definitely have it, and from everything I’ve heard it has a lot of overlap with aphantasia. I’m wondering if it’s even possible to separate them or they’re part of the same thing.

I’m curious if anyone here has the experience of aphantasia without SDAM, and what their experience is like if that’s the case. Like, how does one read those episodic memories without a mind’s eye?

  • harsh3466@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1·
    1 day ago

    I am a total aphant, no mental imagery of any kind, and after reading this, i realize I am/have sdam. My recollections of past events are weak. I can remember the broad strokes of an event but details are often lost. And recollections are, not third person, they’re kind of like reading a cliff notes version of the event, or an outline of it.

    • Mk23simp@lemmy.blahaj.zoneOPEnglish
      1·
      18 hours ago

      Yeah, I think what it is is that I can remember things that I took note of at the time (like, in my factual memory), but nothing beyond that. And that combined with my narrow perception means that I have very poor memory of past events.

  • De_Narm@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    13 days ago

    So, I do not, but I did learn things from your post! Not only do I have less memories overall compared to my peers, the definition I found does speak of first-person memories.

    The memories with weak visuals that I do have are in third person. Heck, I dream in third person. Apparently that is not normal?

    • BlueSerendipity8@programming.devEnglish
      1·
      13 days ago

      I would say that I do have SDAM, although I don’t have an official diagnosis. In fact, I find the ‘S’ (Severe) label a bit overstated. The reason I identify with SDAM is that I have multisensory aphantasia, which means the only way I can access my past is through semantic memory. I am unable to re-experience past events from any sensory perspective, nor can I project myself into the future in that way.

  • BlueSerendipity8@programming.devEnglish
    1·
    13 days ago

    I would suggest that someone who does not lack multisensory mental imagery—what scientists refer to even for non-visual senses—may be able to vividly recollect past events from a first-person perspective (often described as a time travel flashback) using the senses that are not affected. Therefore, they may not be severely impacted or affected at all.