Poll Do You Have Photographic Memory?

[Lina007]

Always have.

 

[Echo]

Yes, I do. I also remember conversations going years back, word-for-word. My brain is pretty tired at the moment with the CPTSD, so sometimes I struggle to find the words to relate the conversations, but when I'm less tired, it is all there still. I have used my photographic memory to pass exams (it does feel like cheating at times!) and I use it professionally, where it is extremely advantageous. However, I have suppressed memories of child abuse for years and there are still major blanks in my recall of my childhood. I find it strange that my mind works in these two disparate ways, but I think there must be separate mechanisms at play. When I have a flashback it is very vivid and in technicolour and I remember what was said often, too. The same goes for the nightmares I have - all very vivid. I hadn't related the two, but maybe you are right. I had just thought it would be the same for everybody with flashbacks. An interesting question.

 

[Biz11]

I do have a verified photograph memory. Great for the job market, torture when raised in a chronica...

Totally agree, I could imagine this would have been a gift if I was raised in the right environment, instead it feels like a curse to re live randomly.

 

[Mach123]

I always wished I had because I'd be a doctor or something. Memory has largely taken the place of intelligence today. (I heard someone else say that) So you can pass all the tests. That lets you be anything you want pretty much except in the hard sciences where you have actually to think? It's all beyond my pay grade. I found out in college I was 'average.' If I had a photographic memory, at least in the way I envision it, I'd be 'extraordinary.' I guess that's why I never went back into a masters program. I had to work really hard for my grades and after I vomit all the info out on the tests, I retained only a little. The concepts in Stats 1 & 2 I have and use in my thinking quite a bit because I really liked Statistics.

 

[bumbles]

Yes. It helps me a lot with creating my visual art, and 'helps' a lot with my flashbacks too

 

[Fadeaway]

It has never been proven to exist in the form portrayed in movies and stuff, but I was jusy reading that everyone has it to some degree.

I cant rememember conversations well at all but I can recallthe imagery and the emotions and have used it yo locate missing things, I just cant choose what things I will remember in that form.

I am cursed with near perfect dream recall going back when I was eight maybe younger.

 

[Muttly]

No, in fact in some ways I'm the opposite. I have aphantaphasia. I have almost no visual memory. Like you could show me a picture, take it away and immediately ask me about it, and I wouldn't be able to visually recall what it looks like.

So, I don't get visual flashbacks, all of mine are physical/emotional. I feel it on my body. That presents it's own PTSD challenges.

 

[Fadeaway]

That is interesting to me Muttly. I have met someone else like that before and felt very confused when they were trying to describe a dress they wanted.

 

[AliciaEff]

I never thought of myself as having photographic memory, but now that I read more about it, I seem to be quite close. I definitely have a better memeory than the average person, but I’ve never really explored what that means and I’ve generally written off other people as having bad memories and mine as normal. I thought my PTSD came from my family’s tendancy for mental illness, but I think this memory thing has a very good connection as well.