Synesthesia: A Unique Way of Experiencing the World
Synesthesia is a unique way of experiencing the world. It can help you develop a new perspective and it can be really refreshing to see things through a different lens.
Different Kinds of Synesthesia
There are several different kinds of synesthesia: some people experience colors when listening to music, for example. They may also hear sounds as being in shapes of different colors or taste different flavors when hearing certain words.
A Genetic Condition
It is a condition that runs in families and is more common in women than men. It is thought to have a genetic cause, and there are no known treatments for it.
Testing for Synesthesia
One of the best ways to see if you have synesthesia is to try a simple test: Close your eyes, and think of the letters in the alphabet. Do you see each letter in a different color or have you noticed patterns with the letters? If you can, write down your answers and do it again a few hours later.
Then, listen to music and try to remember what colors you saw when the notes sounded. If you can, you are probably a synesthete.
You might even be able to tell if you have one of the more uncommon forms of synesthesia, like mirror-touch synesthesia or number form. These types of synesthesia are more rare than others, but they can be very interesting and inspiring to people with them.
Seeking Help and Confirmation
If you have any questions about synesthesia, or if you have an unusual experience with your senses that you would like to discuss, please book in for a free one-to-one. You’ll be able to talk to a trained psychotherapist about your experiences and explore how you can cope with the challenges that come with being a synesthete.
A test-retest procedure is a good way to confirm whether you have synesthesia or not, and there are several online tests that you can use. These are used by many synesthetes as a reliable way to determine if they have synesthesia.
The most important thing to remember about a test-retest is that you should be careful not to make any false positives or false negatives in order to ensure that it’s really a true test. This can be very difficult for people who are used to doing everything the way that neurotypical people do, so it’s a good idea to get some help.
Types of Synesthesia
There are various types of synesthesia, a little bit of each kind occurs in nearly everyone. The most common is grapheme-color synesthesia, where you perceivably perceive letters and numbers in color. Some other types include sound-to-color synesthesia, where you hear certain sounds as being in different shapes of colors or lexical-gustatory synesthesia, where you see words or sounds as having different tastes.
Benefits of Synesthesia
Most forms of synesthesia are not harmful or disruptive. In fact, some of them can be really helpful, such as in visualizing symphonies when you listen to music or seeing colors when you think about words.
The Challenges of Synesthesia
It can be a lonely experience, especially when others don’t share your perspective or don’t understand it. It can also be a lot of pressure if you’re a musician or writer, as you need to explain what you’re feeling and the effects it has on your work.
