Do you see pain as shapes?
Posted by L0u53R@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 38 comments
So if I have a feeling in my body like a pain - I “see” the pain in my mind like in colours shapes and patterns. I’ve never had anyone say that they have this too? Am I just odd?
Hetty-Hedgerow@reddit
It doesn't specifically mention your synesthesia (very unusual!) but there was a fascinating BBC Radio 4 programme last week on this topic.
Link here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002404v
yolo_snail@reddit
What the fuck are you cracking on about?
L0u53R@reddit (OP)
Fair point
txteva@reddit
Sounds odd but some people see colours and sounds.
Effective_Bus_5823@reddit
Yeah I get this. Headaches are red and radiate outwards in like rings
Any_Cauliflower_6337@reddit
Sounds like a type of synesthesia. I guess you are in the 4% so you are rare, but I wouldn’t say it was odd.
L0u53R@reddit (OP)
I’ve just googled synesthesia and I think that’s spot on! Thanks!
Mane25@reddit
Not for pain but find I can completely relate to this since I experience the same thing with loud sudden noises, for example in the night, I find I experience them as shapes and colours sometimes more vividly than I perceive the sound itself.
L0u53R@reddit (OP)
So interesting!!!
L0u53R@reddit (OP)
Grandma did always say I was special 😂
heavenhelpyou@reddit
I see emotions as different numbers and colours, if that helps?
L0u53R@reddit (OP)
Ooo interesting - I remember my mum saying something about that when I was little!
Adelehicks@reddit
Hey guys. I’m not kidding here but I can Move pain down, or up and out of my body. I’ve taught one of my daughters to do it too. Took 3 minutes
L0u53R@reddit (OP)
Yet another thing to read up on! So cool!
graveviolet@reddit
I don't see pain as shapes but I feel others pain physically if I witness it, which is another type of synasthesia
L0u53R@reddit (OP)
This is all so interesting!
TheToyGirl@reddit
No..but I can move pain around my body.
L0u53R@reddit (OP)
That’s mad! Comes in handy I’d imagine!
SasiBan@reddit
No, but I can taste names and certain words. There are loads of forms of synesthesia
PoinkPoinkPoink@reddit
I don’t “see” pain as such, but I know different pain to have different shapes. A paper cut pain for example is a triangle (a yellow one), the pain from stomach ache is a blue sphere and toothache is also a blue triangle.
When I was very small and I’d get sick, I’d have nightmares (probably caused by fever) and would wake up telling my mum the dreams were about scary shapes.
L0u53R@reddit (OP)
Ohhhh that sounds similar just maybe not as extensive as what I see! I’ve always been a vivid dreamer (put it down to my adhd) and also had dreams about the shapes. I remember this absolutely horrific ball of paper type stuff that crunched and moved and grew. Horrific. Glad I’m not to only one yaaaay!
PoinkPoinkPoink@reddit
Oh my goodness yes I have seen the paper type thing - it sort of changed from being impossibly textured to being disgustingly smooth, like intimidatingly smooth somehow.
So strange that there’s more than just me experienced something similar!
GwdihwFach@reddit
Relating to this so much that it's kind of creeping me out
L0u53R@reddit (OP)
“Intimidatingly smooth” sounds so funny but I get it so much 😂😂😂
stathletsyoushitonme@reddit
Is this limited to pain? Are certain pains consistently the same shape or can they vary? Is this only physical pain or does it apply to emotional pain too? It certainly isn’t the first place my brain goes when trying to describe or locate pain, but I could easily name the shape that matches the pain if I were asked to if that makes sense? I suppose it’s similar to the idea of pain being “sharp” etc.
L0u53R@reddit (OP)
So for example, if it’s a period cramp it’s a normally that I see a big smooth pink ball on a dark and light green checked background that turns to a dark red as the pain increases and then goes back to green as it decreases? It depends on the pain. I only figured not everyone has this when I was explaining some pain I had to my boyfriend and he asked what the hell I was on about 😂
Squonk177@reddit
Its not something i have ever heard of so i am genuinely curious. Where do you see these shapes / colours that are assosiated with pain? Just in the blank spaces in front of you or on the body part that is in pain?
L0u53R@reddit (OP)
In my mind’s eye, like when you imagine when you’re reading a book of that makes sense? It’s sometimes in front of me but not so much.
stathletsyoushitonme@reddit
Okay, that is definitely not the norm and very interesting! It sounds like a form of Synesthesia which in itself is not super uncommon, but to the extent you are describing I would say it is.
L0u53R@reddit (OP)
Think I’m going to submit myself for scientific research or something 😂 reading about it is super interesting though, it’s all clicking in to place!
L0u53R@reddit (OP)
Also some smells have shapes and colours - but not all of them
Any_Cauliflower_6337@reddit
Yeah this is a class synesthesia sympton. This is like the main one I have heard about the most often.
L0u53R@reddit (OP)
Good to know I’m not just going crazy!
flohara@reddit
spiky and piss green
SlightProgrammer@reddit
No but whenever I get a big shock / adrenaline dump a black and white spiral flashes into my vision
L0u53R@reddit (OP)
Ohhh thats interesting too!
mh1191@reddit
I do not see pain at all.
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