I cant imagine when I read.

[younger brother]

So this has been a concern of mind for a while, let me start off by saying I have been addicted to opiates for the past 2 years I'm in recovery right now and neurological part of my brain is still repairing itself. I found this site by searching it on Goggle "I cant imagine when I read" but basically here’s my problem and ran into this http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45396 the author who wrote that people would kill for what she has. But I truly can’t imagine anything

When I use to read I use to imagine for example in a solitary blue I could imagine the boy growing up and living by the Chesapeake or in On the Road I could imagine good old Jack and Neal and all there shenanigans.

But basically right now I’m trying to read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintence and the book has me very interested but every time I read it I just see the words and that's it. When I say I see the words I don’t see what’s going on. I do not see the characters and I cannot comprehend in my mind what is going on. Think of the Turtle and creature that lives up to 40 years and has no concept of time, there for he has no concept of memory there for he has no concept of the past. He is a Turtle who is just in the present. But going back to everything. Part of me wants to keep changing up books and the other part wants to give up. I’m trying to write a book so I'm trying to get to the bottom of this. I have a lot of studying to do before I can really start writing my book. So please if anyone can help and this is really not a joke.

[Virgil]

I guess you're a walking example of why not to do drugs. I don't think anyone here has a medical degree to help you with your problems. Maybe if you drink a cup of warm milk every night for the next two years it will off set the opiate damage. :p

[younger brother]

Well... maybe your right. I'll try drinking that milk and hopefully in 2 years I can imagine. I have been told however while in rehab and in my group classes. That it would eventually come back to me and would be stronger then ever. So that is something I try and keep in mind. Of course I would like the offical anwser. and maybe I would have to see a specialist. but really I just want to see peoples insight and ideas they might have.

[OrphanPip]

Um, well if you have difficulty imagining things in your mind in general, maybe seek help with a therapist or psychiatrist.

I don't think this has anything to do with your drug use, just from a layman's perspective. The problem is that it is a matter of perception and thus rather difficult to objectively assess. Seek professional help if it really bothers you.

[soundofmusic]

Welcome to the forum and it is wonderful that you are so brave as to work on your difficulties. Have you spoken with a Neurologist and psychologist about this. It is possible that you can be given occupational therapy to assist you to relearn some of your old skills.

The truth is, I don't always picture what I am reading; it depends on how familiar I am with the topic. For instance, if I watch a movie before reading the book, I put the face of the actor in. If I have a celebrity crush, he winds up in Hemingway, Lawrence and Wilde....

Good luck

[Lulim]

Start slowly, if you can draw, try to do sketches of the scenes you read about. Think about each character separately and try to envision him/her. Try to start at a point where you are able to imagine something, anything (I haven't read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintence", so can't get more concrete here), be it a cup of coffee, a vendor machine or a tree on the roadside. And take your time for that. :)

[applepie]

Just a thought, but could it be your choice of reading material? If it is damage, and some of your mental faculty is dulled, books that are generally more visceral in their imagery might help a bit. Ultimately, I suggest listening to the people in your groups. If they've had similar issues, then they will be able to give you the best suggestions. Best of luck to you :)

[dafydd manton]

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is pretty hard for anyone to imagine, I should think. Try something a bit more graphic,perhaps. Dickens describes things in great detail, might be worth a try, but whatever, keep trying. Never give up, because nothing is impossible.

[billl]

That's a good point, Dafydd. Zen and the Art... is about someone still struggling with mental issues (alongside a sort of 'zen' appreciation of things, I suppose). In a way, the writer is conveying the thoughts of a person whose mind has been through some trauma, and is perhaps still a bit dissociated from things to some degree. His search for an understanding of "quality" is basically a part of that. There is definitely some imagery going on, and it is accomplished in a somewhat unique way (I'm pretty sure, anyhow--it has actually been many years since I read it, in my very early 20's), but a lot of the book is just musings on things and analysis, if I remember right.

[younger brother]

I really appreciate all the support and help and I'm going to take every last one of those ideas to heart yes zen and the art is a very complex book but u know i think im starting to be able to visualize. i'm not reading at the moment but im just thinking on the subject and i can just imagine the whole situation. soundsofmusic what you said about how you always dont picture what your reading and when you see a movie you imagine the actor in it. thats how ive always been. but what is the point of reading if you cant visualize what your reading can someone please anwser me that?

[soundofmusic]

but what is the point of reading if you cant visualize what your reading can someone please anwser me that?

Because I believe that eventually you will visualize what you read; but really, what should you visualize when you are reading zen.

I think I would start out with something obvious...I think I'd get a playboy...no, really, start out with something that is more natural...can you imagine a seductive woman..., now imagine the woman on a harley with you...there, you just had a visual of a harley...imagine the woman pulling off her tshirt on the highway and it blocks the windshield of the semi in back of you....he's sliding off the road....

Are you seeing anything; because I am:cool:

[younger brother]

soundofmusic it truly is hard to imagine for me. i'm trying to but i gotta keep thinking about it. its as if its in the back of my head but the picture doesnt show. and i know i should be imagining somthing but cant.