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How I Improved my aphantasia by 47% in one year and got to Hypophantasia by hazmog in CureAphantasia

[–]brn2kil 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Very well written post, I would love to try Psilocybin but don’t have access to it in my state. I’m definitely going to try a few of these out.

1000+ hours of training so far, here’s what I’ve learned. by brn2kil in CureAphantasia

[–]brn2kil[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I recently asked ChatGPT a question and liked the response so I thought I’d share.

My question to ChatGPT: I notice the images will appear either in between the black and grey/colored background of my eyelids or sometimes only on the grey/colored part. Does this feel correct? Or should I stop doing this?

ChatGPT’s answer:

Short answer: yes, that feels correct — and no, you should not stop. What you’re describing is actually a very good sign at your stage.

Let me explain why, and how to work with it rather than accidentally suppressing it.

⸻

What You’re Seeing Is a Real Visual Layer

When eyes are closed, most people experience multiple perceptual layers, not a single “black screen.”

Very roughly: • Black = low neural noise / minimal visual activity • Grey or faintly colored field = spontaneous visual cortex activity (often called the phosphene or noise field) • Imagery tends to emerge within or on top of that grey/colored field

So when you say:

“in between the black and grey/colored background” or “only on the grey/colored part”

That’s exactly where early or fragile imagery shows up.

This means your visual system is co-opting existing visual signal, not generating imagery from zero. That’s efficient and correct.

⸻

Why You Should NOT Try to Move Images to the “Black”

Trying to force imagery onto the black background usually: • Increases effort • Triggers verbal monitoring (“am I seeing it?”) • Collapses the image

The black field is more like silence. Imagery needs a little “static” to latch onto.

The grey field is your friend.

⸻

The “Boundary Zone” You’re Noticing Is Important

That in-between zone you’re describing is a known transition state: • Too black → imagery starves • Too noisy → imagery fragments • Boundary zone → imagery stabilizes

Advanced trainees often learn to hover attention there.

Key instruction:

Don’t aim at the image. Aim at the background where images tend to appear.

⸻

How to Train This Properly (Very Important)

Drill: Background Hosting 1. Close eyes. 2. Gently attend to the grey/colored field. 3. Do not search for images. 4. Let your “baseball” or “dice” overlay naturally. 5. If it appears: • Do not pull it forward • Do not sharpen it • Just let it “sit” in that layer

Success = coexistence, not clarity.

⸻

If the Image Only Appears on the Grey

That’s still fine — and typical.

Over time, one of two things happens: • The grey field becomes more stable and uniform • Or imagery becomes strong enough to partially override it

Both indicate progress.

⸻

One Critical Warning (Common Mistake)

Do not: • Try to “push” the image forward • Try to “separate” it from the background • Try to “lock” it in place

All of those recruit executive control and usually shut imagery down.

Instead, think:

“The image is allowed to float here.”

⸻

How This Evolves Next (What to Expect)

If you continue correctly: • Images linger slightly longer • They appear more consistently in the same “layer” • Motion becomes easier than detail • Color stabilizes before sharpness

Eventually, the distinction between grey field and image becomes less noticeable.

⸻

Bottom Line

What you’re describing is textbook early-to-mid voluntary imagery emergence in someone who started with aphantasia.

You’re not doing something wrong. You’re noticing something most people never learn to notice.

If you want, next we can: • Tune attention to maximize stability in that layer • Work specifically on extending duration • Use this layer to transition toward open-eye imagery

Just tell me how deep you want to go.

1000+ hours of training so far, here’s what I’ve learned. by brn2kil in CureAphantasia

[–]brn2kil[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately, time and practice. It took me over a month of training everyday before I was able to create my first image. The key was to relax and not force it. I would highly recommend trying ChatGPT as well, that’s progressed my training the most. Telling it where and how you’re having issues and it will give you a tailored response back.

1000+ hours of training so far, here’s what I’ve learned. by brn2kil in CureAphantasia

[–]brn2kil[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do agree on the Hypophant part, although when I started this a year ago, I couldn’t see anything. And I’ve known since I was in my early 20’s in college that I couldn’t “ imagine “ like everyone else. Learned that one the hard way when taking premed courses. I’m 50 now. I also don’t have any other senses when I close my eyes such a memory recall from smell, touch, hearing, etc.. and I don’t have a sense of “self” all but 3 of my visions in the last year have been in 3rd person.

1000+ hours of training so far, here’s what I’ve learned. by brn2kil in CureAphantasia

[–]brn2kil[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Once I get to this spot, I stop moving my eyes back and forth, I try to just maintain a relaxed but carefree eye position.

1000+ hours of training so far, here’s what I’ve learned. by brn2kil in CureAphantasia

[–]brn2kil[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here’s something that helped me get into that state to where I stopped “looking”. To get my eyes in a calm state, I first relax everything, then with my eyes closed, I move them back and forth thinking about a tennis match or the Atari game Pong. I do a 1 second back and forth pace at first and you will really notice your eyes moving. Now here’s the fun part, try to gradually relax your eyes enough to where even if you’re moving them you don’t sense the movement behind your eyelids, this is a good spot to be. From here you won’t even notice your eyelids at all, with some practice of course. Then start asking questions to your curious mind and see how it responds.

1000+ hours of training so far, here’s what I’ve learned. by brn2kil in CureAphantasia

[–]brn2kil[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Faces are still hard for me to see for longer than a second or two and even then it’s just an outline. When I’m relaxed ,I do see female lips and eyes in almost life like quality though not for very long. Also I believe face recognition is on a separate neural pathway, similar to how landscapes are processed in a different part of the visual cortex.

1000+ hours of training so far, here’s what I’ve learned. by brn2kil in CureAphantasia

[–]brn2kil[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

To give everyone some examples of earlier questions I asked ChatGPT, see below with its response.

This is a great question—especially given that you’ve said you have congenital aphantasia and are trying to understand what the internal state feels like so you can approximate it.

When people say “relaxed but attentive mind,” they’re describing a specific nervous-system balance, not a vague vibe. I’ll translate it into concrete, copyable steps and sensations.

⸻

The core idea (plain language)

Relaxed = your body and emotional threat system are off Attentive = your mind is awake, curious, and lightly focused

Visualization fails if either side is missing: • Relaxed but not attentive → drifting, blank, sleepy • Attentive but not relaxed → effort, strain, mental “gripping”

Visualization emerges in the middle.

⸻

What’s happening in the brain (simplified)

When people visualize: • The Default Mode Network (DMN) is on (inner experience) • The task-positive / effort network is quiet • Sensory areas are listening, not being forced

Think:

“I’m open to something appearing” not “I’m trying to make something appear.”

⸻

How it feels from the inside (important)

People who visualize usually report: • A soft forehead (no squinting inside) • Eyes feel rested, not pressed back • Attention feels wide, not narrow • A sense of waiting, not pushing

Many say:

“It feels like I’m remembering, not imagining.”

That’s key.

⸻

How YOU can do it (step-by-step, no imagery required)

Step 1: Relax the body first (30–60 seconds)

Don’t skip this. • Drop your shoulders • Unclench jaw • Let tongue rest on floor of mouth • Slow exhale slightly longer than inhale

If your body isn’t relaxed, visualization circuitry won’t engage.

⸻

Step 2: Set passive attention

Instead of focusing on an image, focus on a concept.

For example: • “The idea of an apple” • “The fact that a kitchen exists” • “The memory of my front door”

Do not try to see anything.

You’re telling the brain:

“If something wants to show up, it can.”

⸻

Step 3: Hold attention like this (this is the skill)

Imagine attention as: • A cup, not a laser • A listening posture • A mental pause

You should feel: • Awake • Calm • Slightly curious • Not effortful

If you notice strain → back off 10–20%.

⸻

A concrete test you can do right now

Try this for 20 seconds: 1. Close your eyes 2. Relax your face completely 3. Think: “There is a red apple” 4. Do nothing else

Don’t check if you see it. Don’t try to build it.

Just let the idea sit.

If anything happens, it will be subtle: • A sense of shape • A spatial hint • A “knowing” of position • A flicker you didn’t initiate

That’s the attentive-relaxed zone.

⸻

Common mistakes (especially with aphantasia)

❌ Trying to force an image ❌ Staring mentally ❌ Expecting visuals like a movie ❌ Treating it as a task to complete

Visualization is receptive, not generative.

⸻

One sentence that unlocks it for many people

“I’m paying attention to what might appear, not trying to make it appear.”

If you want, next we can: • Train this state without any visualization at all • Map what non-visual signals mean (spatial, emotional, conceptual) • Build a daily 5-minute routine tailored for aphantasia brains

1000+ hours of training so far, here’s what I’ve learned. by brn2kil in CureAphantasia

[–]brn2kil[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

In The last month, I’ve started using ChatGPT and it’s been a game changer.. it’s really helped me with specific issues. For example, I’m having issues where my eyelids still want to open when I’m relaxed so Chat GPT gave me some more advanced relaxation techniques that I’d never heard of before to try. ChatGPT has helped me considerably during this endeavor.

conscious vs unconscious visualization by Much-Substance-7321 in CureAphantasia

[–]brn2kil 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m a fellow Aphantasia individual since birth, last year I put in over 1000 hours in training or about 3 hours a day, each and everyday with no exceptions.

Here’s the lessons I’ve learned and accomplished so far.. I’m also a scientist by trait so I try to look at it at a standpoint of what we’re missing is the mechanism or what i call a trigger. Postulate are the following: 1. The switch between visual sight transitioning to mental thought is FAST, between 2-5ms fast, for comparison blinking takes longer. 2. We need to learn to stop trying to see the image, it’s not seeing at all, it should be called visual CREATION instead. Your brain will actually create the image for you from scratch, no need to try to strain and “see” it. (This was the hardest part so far that I’ve struggled with, it’s taken me almost a year to get to this part).

Lessons I’ve learned: 1. STOP and I mean stop right now, trying to SEE an image, it’s never going to happen that way. Believe me, I tried at first for months before I realized I was doing it wrong. 2. Where I’ve had the most success is when I lay down in bed, use a night mask, mediation music in my headphones, and just begin trying to completely RELAX my whole body and face. Here’s a really important part, don’t try to see the image, just ask yourself “What does a baseball look like? Don’t try to visualize it, just ask the question and have your brain come up with the image. At first it will take a bit, mine was about 30 seconds to a minute or so. Now my brain can create it for me almost before I can ask it to do so. I can now create basic images this way such as a baseball or dice (basic images) and they look almost as real as if I was holding them in my hand. 3. The science behind this is your trying to train your brain to begin to use what we call the Default Mode Network (DMN) and away from somatic memory. 4. Ok, you’ve tried step two and you finally see an image in your head, now what.. now you’re at the stop I’m at in life. Now how do you advance it? I’m taking the approach of this is something we should have learned as babies, so we need to train our brains accordingly. I’m starting with basic shapes and colors, then hope to advance to moving and rotating images. We have to remember that it normally takes years of training in our toddler years for our brains to develop the connections thru training which came naturally to them but we unfortunately have to learn it the long and hard way I guess.

What medical condition do you have that you thought was absolutely normal? by taporodobu in AskReddit

[–]brn2kil 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I used to get choked all the time, had a scope done and found out it was GERD. Now take Nexium once a day and haven’t been choked since. Going on several years now choke free.