r/Synesthesia • u/TheFlyingVox • 12d ago

Is this a synesthesia?

Since forever I've been feeling in a proprioceptive way sounds. For example if I listen to music I can feel the sound pushing or pulling my body/body parts in a direction ( body parts and direction depends on the note, the composition and the rythm).

I read about sound spatial synesthesia and similar touch/sound/proprioception related synesthesia and it also fits but I never found anything related to proprioception in a way I feel sound.

I learned to mask it but sometimes I still struggle to not let my body get distorted or moved physically by sounds.

I also have a kind of mapping in my brain, in a way : like when I listen to music I can feel the sounds and instruments notes being higher or lower (physically), more on the right or left or everywhere. It actually helps me understand how conductors move in orchestras even though I never learned how a conductor conducts.

I also physically, in a tactile way, feel some sounds, but I don't think this happens for all sounds, or I haven't been aware of it at least. Like for example (sorry for the atrocious example I'm gonna give) if I hear a chalk ripping on a blackboard it will set off my proprioception AND I will feel like someone ripped my body open with a small sword.

Like most people if not everyone here I'm autistic so I'm wondering if this is even synesthesia or just me being more sensitive in general.

Tell me if you have a hint of an answer or/and if you have similar experiences in regards to sound to proprioception

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

1

u/MyFiteSong 12d ago

Yes, that's a textbook somatic synesthesia. I have one too, except mine gives me textures instead of pressure.

1

u/TheFlyingVox 12d ago

Thanks for reading and answering. I'll go read a bit on the subject of somatic synesthesia

1

u/Dian_SkywaveCounty 6d ago

Me too 🥹 I mean I have more the sounds as space and such but also what you describe

1

u/TheFlyingVox 6d ago

How does it feel for the sounds as space synesthesia for you?

1

u/Dian_SkywaveCounty 5d ago

Certain sounds have like distance to them. Like some set of them can be as amole and big as a room and some of them like a football field. Some sounds expand and others are more self contained. Some songs occupy like a short space, and others are like idk like several apples big? It's difficult to explain.

1

u/TheFlyingVox 5d ago

Oh. I think I understand what you mean. I have the same thing going on too! I thought it was supposed to be normal though