I'm an Autistic Imagistic Thinker. Could You Be Too?

Some signs you might be... without realizing it...

“When I Can’t Use My Words,” digital illustration by author.

I'm an #Autistic imagistic thinker. In my 70s. But never realized it til recently.

Are you too? Maybe, like me... without realizing it?

Let’s talk thinking in pictures…

Do you find yourself gesturing at invisible objects while talking, as if others can also see what you see? In your mind’s eye?

Do you struggle to explain things linearly, because you get concepts all at once? Like puzzle pieces suddenly snapping into place?

But then get overwhelmed? Trying to explain that whole picture step by step?

Do you experience emotions as a complex package of feelings, colors, textures, sensations, images all at once?

Do you instinctively reach for metaphors & sensory details? Can’t explain concepts without them?

Does it feel like you're constantly translating your rich mental sensations into words? And they never quite get the full picture across?

Do you find it easy to get complex systems visually? BUT struggle to explain your insights in simple sentences?

Like you're juggling countless connected impressions? Struggling to string details into linear thoughts? Or find a topic sentence?

Do you often choose words that seem 'wrong' to others, even though they perfectly match the image or sensation in your mind?

And find yourself frequently saying 'Do you see what I mean?' or reaching for paper to sketch your thoughts?

This has led to decades of being misunderstood. For me.

Here's what helped me:

I started telling people upfront, “I think in images, so I might leave gaps that don't make sense to you. Just ask questions if I'm not clear. We'll figure things out.”

This simple acknowledgment often turns potential confusion into an engaging dialogue… almost an enjoyable game.

If you saw yourself in some of these questions, you might be an imagistic thinker.

It's not better or worse - just different. Understanding this can transform frustrating conversations into opportunities for deeper connection.

There's a lot more to talk about imagistic thinking - from problem-solving to emotional processing.

I would really love to hear YOUR experiences below! How do you navigate communication challenges?

More insights coming in a future article. Follow for updates.