Do You Have Trouble Describing Things?

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aspiegirl2
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02 Dec 2007, 5:21 am

Same as the title: Do you have trouble describing things? I do; sometimes when I'm trying to describe something to someone, I see this picture in my head but I can't seem to be able to put the picture into words so that the listener could understand it. Sometimes I'm successful and could describe things, but other times I just keep going on and on. Sometimes I need to be able to spend time alone with myself to figure out the best words to use, almost like a script. Most of the time I have trouble explaining things when it's right on the spot and don't know what words to say to get the listener to "see what I see". I think I do much better with the written word when describing things, but that might go with what I already said: by scripting or spending time thinking to say the right words. Does anyone else have trouble describing things to people?


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Reodor_Felgen
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02 Dec 2007, 7:22 am

I often have problems describing things, but I guess it's that way with most picture thinkers.



CockneyRebel
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02 Dec 2007, 7:47 am

I find that I'm a lot better at expressing myself through art, than describing things with words.


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TheZach
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02 Dec 2007, 8:06 am

I'm better expressing through written word then verybally.


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ixochiyo_yohuallan
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02 Dec 2007, 8:10 am

I do. I tend to get overly descriptive and go into details too much. As a result, I end up with a long-winded and, most likely, tedious speech rather than giving a short, adequate summary of what had happened. I also frequently "jump" from one thought to another, switching between the things I am describing, returning suddenly to something I had been talking about earlier, then going forward just as unexpectedly. It happens because I will suddenly feel that something is really relevant and must be mentioned, - usually it's something that "flashes" especially vividly in my mind's eye at that moment, - so I will skip to it. People have remarked that this makes my speaking jumbled and difficult to follow.

I've learned to summarize things more or less tolerably, and to follow a clearer, more coherent line of thought while describing something only over the last couple of years. I think it's partly due to my having become calmer and more balanced, so that I can speak more slowly and concentrate on what I want to say. Still, it works only when I feel tranquil enough; as soon as I get excited or nervous, my speaking goes all over the place.



ixochiyo_yohuallan
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02 Dec 2007, 8:23 am

aspiegirl2 wrote:
Same as the title: Do you have trouble describing things? I do; sometimes when I'm trying to describe something to someone, I see this picture in my head but I can't seem to be able to put the picture into words so that the listener could understand it. Sometimes I'm successful and could describe things, but other times I just keep going on and on. Sometimes I need to be able to spend time alone with myself to figure out the best words to use, almost like a script. Most of the time I have trouble explaining things when it's right on the spot and don't know what words to say to get the listener to "see what I see". I think I do much better with the written word when describing things, but that might go with what I already said: by scripting or spending time thinking to say the right words. Does anyone else have trouble describing things to people?


Same here. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. There seems to be no truly "adequate" way of describing an image, so one can say a lot about it but it still seems one has missed the point.

I also think in pictures, and also get frustrated because it often feels like I can't find the right words for what I want to say. It just seems that I only keep circling my intended meaning, again and again, and cannot convey it to the other person (especially when it comes to describing emotions and other subjective experiences which are perfectly clear to myself). I'd probably have to be telepathic to be able to do that. Someone here mentioned earlier that they sometimes wish they could plant their images directly into the heads of the people they talk to, and it rang so true for me.



doordoctor
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02 Dec 2007, 8:48 am

yes, hate having to go deep in detail with people, once took me 3 hours to describe the hydrualic cylinders on the gates of miraflores locks in panama, then when i said its similer to how a screen door closer works they had a better idea of what im talking about

took my dad about 4 days to understand adjustment of an old "meat grinder style" traditional door closer (after he had "fun" assuming that i was going to mess with the old door at vetrinary hospital were i take dog)

i was commenting on the old look of things (intentionally to appear to be from 1930's era) so i was complementing that maybe the woodwork and doorknob was to compliment the old 1932 closer in exam room. my dad was like dont even mention it to doc, dont touch it dont mess with it(i hate them "pep talks" always assuming as if im gonna jump up on the thing and remove and keep it) (i respect that doc likes it so i dont bother him about his old closer) problem is though that his dont close, i know exactly why. that was what took like 3 days to discribe to my dad why it dont close.

reason why it dont close, spring tension was released from a gear thing under its arm (the old kind have like a gear thing ebtween its arm and body that controls spring tension)


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benjimanbreeg
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02 Dec 2007, 9:51 am

Yeah erm.........



MrGrey
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02 Dec 2007, 10:01 am

I'm quite good at describing systems, just "This does that which depending on parameters a, b and or c does something else", not good at describing objects though.



9CatMom
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02 Dec 2007, 10:32 am

I express myself well in writing. I do less well when speaking in social situations, but when talking about something I'm interested in, such as my cats, I could talk forever.



alei
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02 Dec 2007, 11:02 am

It depends on the situation. I do much better with pen and paper to help me, or in many cases a computer for writing. I can describe emotions and situations effectively through the written word, but have difficulty doing the same during verbal conversation especially if I feel put on the spot.

I think, like so many others, I need the time to process and script what it is I want to say. There are a few topics I can discuss in the moment, but those are things I have previously put a lot of thought into and already have straight in my head.

I also find it extremely difficult to describe things I have seen. I'm a sketch artists worst nightmare.


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02 Dec 2007, 11:02 am

I have trouble describing things, especially in regards to feelings or sensations.

Like, when my (now) psychiatrist asked me how being depressed made me feel, and I answered that it felt like "someone was screaming in my head and my skin."

He said that's one of the things that tipped him off to my being AS.


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howzat
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02 Dec 2007, 11:16 am

Im not very good at describing tings as i don't get da rite words but im much better expressing myself its a strength 4 me.



psychedelic
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02 Dec 2007, 11:27 am

I'm surprised to see that other people are like this too when it comes to explaining.

(I'm new here.)



Malachi_Rothschild
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02 Dec 2007, 11:31 am

If someone asks me to describe something I usually give too much information. The hardest thing for me is when someone asks for a summary. I have a hard time leaving the auxiliary details out.



Mw99
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02 Dec 2007, 11:42 am

This thread seems like a thread I could have written.

Yes, I have the exact same problem.

I can see things in my head, but describing them is the challenging part. I always thought it mean I wasn't brilliant.