Is it normal to see shapes in walls of text?

45% Normal
8 Comments

I've been trying to look this up, but I haven't found anything. I'm not sure if it's normal or not. When I'm trying to read, especially if it's something with a lot of text (a book, for example,) I see random shapes between the words, and I focus on that instead. Some of the letters look grey, and parts of other letters look grey. This also goes into me seeing other things besides text when I read. I'm not just imagining what I'm reading. I'm literally seeing shapes within the text. If it's normal, how do I focus on the words instead? If it's not normal, what is it?

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45% Normal
Based on 40 votes (18 yes)
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Comments ( 8 )
  • Anewbis
    8 years ago

    It's not normal, but it's not bad either.

    When I was younger it didn't matter what sort of textured surface I looked at I would see shapes and faces. Stucco ceilings made even more shapes/faces than books do.

    I think that it kinda means that you are artistic and creative even if you've never dabbled at it.
    It takes a lot of concentrating even now to keep my eyes from blurring and seeing the shapes again... especially the gaps between words which form blank rivers down the pages.
    Sometimes they look like hidden code to me and I have to struggle to focus on the words.

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    • SweetAppleSauce
      8 years ago

      I could watch paint dry because I'm seeing pictures in the drying paint.

      I am artistic. I love to draw.

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      • Anewbis
        8 years ago

        I've actually given this quite a bit of thought since nobody really understood these things when I would try to describe them growing up.
        I think that the perception of a constant barrage of images in texture indicates a closer than average connection between the conscious and subconscious minds in an individual.

        The subconscious mind constantly seeks connections, (especially facial recognitions) and tries to anthropomorphize almost everything we see.
        To be cognizant of this connection-awareness means that you are able to access this part of your mind where a majority of the population are completely blind to it.

        Since none of us are taught about perception as children, and the subconscious mind is so much more powerful than the conscious mind, it leads to anxiety in many cases and sometimes madness for those not prepared to learn the focus needed to keep the two minds separate.

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  • Steve2WantsTheManagement2Reply
    8 years ago

    Sounds like some form of synesthesia, where one associates colours with certain letters, numbers or words.

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    • SweetAppleSauce
      8 years ago

      I do have synesthesia, (sound to color) but I don't think it's that.

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  • thegypsvsailor
    8 years ago

    You may have downs syndrome, you should get checked out

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    • SweetAppleSauce
      8 years ago

      I am pretty sure I don't have down syndrome. When I say pretty sure, I mean 100% sure. You didn't need to be an asshole.

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  • damarixa12
    8 years ago

    I think you got that same disease as the man who know all the 20,000+ numbers of pi.

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