No sense of direction

[Theoryofrelativity]

I do that too (conversely, I've been given lifts by people and then had no idea which route they went ... my parents were surprised how I didn't know the route to my school after a few years) ... I'm not sure it's a very safe way to drive, mind you. I know I can become more aware of my surroundings if I put in the effort. Although the effect might take a few days to kick in rather than being instantaneous.


Maybe it's too common to be considered pathological

I don't know anyone with this problem as bad as me, my mother gets completely exasperated with me, my friends think it's odd I can never tell them where I've been, and my bfriend I think finds it 'cute' but is still gobsmacked that after several trips to a particular set of shops I still go in the wrong direction.

[Theoryofrelativity]

I think I need to get out of my head and start trying to be more conscious generally of what is occurring around me rather than being engrossed in thought all the time. Use my eyes to look instead of just letting the brain utilise them to ensure I don't bump into things.

[Roman]

Maybe it's because you're a woman?

[S.A.M.]

Maybe it's because you're a woman?

You hang out with too many barbies.

[Roman]

Oh.

[Roman]

Hey, I'm going to get really drunk tonight and probably end up sleeping with this porker who likes me. Does that make me a better person?

[S.A.M.]

I think I need to get out of my head and start trying to be more conscious generally of what is occurring around me rather than being engrossed in thought all the time. Use my eyes to look instead of just letting the brain utilise them to ensure I don't bump into things.

ToR can you multitask?

[S.A.M.]

Hey, I'm going to get really drunk tonight and probably end up sleeping with this porker who likes me. Does that make me a better person?

I don't know. Does she make you think with your brain as well as your dick?

[Roman]

She makes me think about how disgusted I am with myself. Does that count?

[S.A.M.]

Whatever turns you on.

[Roman]

Oh I get it.

[FallingSkyward]

Haha, thanks for posting this.. it's nice to hear that other people are afflicted with being directionally retarded.

Direction is one of my banes in life; I'm pretty awful at it. I used to get really embarrased and would try to take any measure to cover it up, but now I kind of just let it roll of my back(although it still can be frustrating). I just hated to think that people would get the impression that I'm stupid from my sub-par directional skills. I still do, but I guess I've grown not to care what people think quite so much!

But along the lines of what other people are saying -- I'm definitely better at it when I pay attention to my surroundings. I too can be in a car with someone and have no thoughts about what route we're taking.

[Theoryofrelativity]

ToR can you multitask?

I multi task all the time, I find it very difficult to do one thing at a time, always got a few balls in the air, very inefficient I guess. The only time I ever managed one thing at a time was when I was first pregnant and I was wrongly diagnosed as being depressed as oppose to pregnant! The anti d's made me very 'one thing at a time' very chilleddddddddd, I was off them after 3 weeks when I got my positive result! It was a nice feeling though being so focused on one thing. No invading thoughts re other matters.

[Theoryofrelativity]

Haha, thanks for posting this.. it's nice to hear that other people are afflicted with being directionally retarded.

Direction is one of my banes in life; I'm pretty awful at it. I used to get really embarrased and would try to take any measure to cover it up, but now I kind of just let it roll of my back(although it still can be frustrating). I just hated to think that people would get the impression that I'm stupid from my sub-par directional skills. I still do, but I guess I've grown not to care what people think quite so much!

But along the lines of what other people are saying -- I'm definitely better at it when I pay attention to my surroundings. I too can be in a car with someone and have no thoughts about what route we're taking.

maybe we should start a club, 'A SOD' 'Absence of Sense of Direction.'

[firdroirich]

I was abit rusty on the directions some years back, but this MUD game called 2 towers helped heaps. It's all text navigation, as any other MUD. It forced me to visualise say the oppsosite of going E,N, NE, SE, N is .....S, NW, SW, S, W.
After playing an entire game that forces you to visualise the entire landscape filled with friend & foe in this manner - I'm sure you'll improve.
Just hit connect, it will go in any java capable browser.

[S.A.M.]

I multi task all the time, I find it very difficult to do one thing at a time, always got a few balls in the air, very inefficient I guess. The only time I ever managed one thing at a time was when I was first pregnant and I was wrongly diagnosed as being depressed as oppose to pregnant! The anti d's made me very 'one thing at a time' very chilleddddddddd, I was off them after 3 weeks when I got my positive result! It was a nice feeling though being so focused on one thing. No invading thoughts re other matters.

If you can multi-task, there is nothing wrong with you; its much more difficult to multi-task than it is to do things one at a time.

Me, I cannot multi-task at all. One at a time. It's a real pain.

Focused is not always better.

[Theoryofrelativity]

I was abit rusty on the directions some years back, but this MUD game called 2 towers helped heaps. It's all text navigation, as any other MUD. It forced me to visualise say the oppsosite of going E,N, NE, SE, N is .....S, NW, SW, S, W.
After playing an entire game that forces you to visualise the entire landscape filled with friend & foe in this manner - I'm sure you'll improve.
Just hit connect, it will go in any java capable browser.

I'll give this a whirl, thanks

[pasquala]

You may be touching on the right answer. My husband claims that I am not aware of my surroundings. He says because of this I am not a true surviver. I have to write the directions down to a tee and include all landmarks along the way (ex: gas stations, billboards, or what have you) but still I have problems. Why? Even after I write it all down and follow the directions percisely and look out for all the landmarks. There is one client's house that I go to and I still miss the SAME EXACT turn every time althought I have it all writen down and I have many there dozens of time. Why can't I get it right. And I do consciously work to be aware of my surroundings. That is why I (and I think THoR) are concerned that it may be a inability beyond our control. Something cerebral perhaps?

[Theoryofrelativity]

You may be touching on the right answer. My husband claims that I am not aware of my surroundings. He says because of this I am not a true surviver. I have to write the directions down to a tee and include all landmarks along the way (ex: gas stations, billboards, or what have you) but still I have problems. Why? Even after I write it all down and follow the directions percisely and look out for all the landmarks. There is one client's house that I go to and I still miss the SAME EXACT turn every time althought I have it all writen down and I have many there dozens of time. Why can't I get it right. And I do consciously work to be aware of my surroundings. That is why I (and I think THoR) are concerned that it may be a inability beyond our control. Something cerebral perhaps?

This is exactly how it is with me

I have been giving it some thought and I think it's to do with short term memory, which for me is also poor, I have trouble recalling what I did yesterday for example..lots! The day of the week it is, what day certain things happened etc. So now I'm thinking..short term memory problem.

Which is why when I go into a loo, where as some people will without effort automitically (my 2.5yr old can manage it!) be able to walk straight to the exit, I can't. I will stand and try to orientate myself and 'LOOK' for the exit. I am completely lost.

[Theoryofrelativity]

If you can multi-task, there is nothing wrong with you; its much more difficult to multi-task than it is to do things one at a time.

Me, I cannot multi-task at all. One at a time. It's a real pain.

Focused is not always better.

This is reassuring but it was so nice when my brain chilled and there was only one thing going on at a time, soooooo nice, like peace in otherwise stormy waters. So nice, wish I could recreate that state naturally.