#49. Synesthesia

I’ve always suspected there was something different about the way I perceive things, but it wasn’t until High school that I started noticing various senses working in unison, something called “synesthesia.”  “Psychology Today” says Synesthesia is a neurological condition in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway (for example, hearing) leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway (such as vision). Simply put, when one sense is activated, another unrelated sense is activated at the same time.   I can recall the first time I was able to experience synesthesia long enough for me to figure out what was happening.  Me and some friends were hanging out in Jake’s old sauna (more of a hangout room than a sauna) and somehow the fact that I had never been kissed came up, and at one point, this girl that was with us just surprised me with a tongue kiss, but the strangest thing happened: I could see out of my mouth.  It was so strange being able to effectively see her tongue with mine, wrestling in saliva.  It was fascinating, and baffling at the same time.  This still happens, and I really gotta be into a person to get myself to cross that line cuz there’s a chance I’ll see any number of things that could make me uncomfortable.  Seeing through my mouth is not the only type of synesthesia I experience, though.  I don’t know why I don’t do this more often, but I can see voices, and I used to draw them for people.  I don’t know if it’s a consistent pattern every time I see it, or if it’s inspired by my own reactions, but there’s often some pattern that accompanies a voice as long as my eyes are closed when I hear it.  It seems to come and go just like everything else.  It’s hard to tell how many other ways I experience synesthesia,  I know I see white when I hear a sudden noise at night when my eyes are closed, and it’s possible the feelings I have when I observe motion might have something to do with my clover hunting, but what I know for sure is that there are too many variables for little old me to know anything for sure without some heavy scientific equipment.  Pay attention to your own senses and it may help you discover some strengths you never knew you had.