getting lost all the time

Post Reply New Topic

hey all. I have a question. I have had neuro psychological tests (because of my brain injury) and at some point getting lost came up. I get lost all the time, everywhere, even in my own town. If I know a route that leads me to the place I want to I have the strong tendency to stick to that route, even if it is a detour. With the brain injury it is a bit worse now.
The psychologist said it was a condition and he said what it was called.... And I can't remember what it is now. I googled etc, but I can't seem to find the name for it. Does anyone of you know what it is called?
And is getting lost common among AS people?
I seem to remember the details, but not the whole picture. I see and remember a mark (like the color of a building), but not where it is (so not in what street or which area the building is). At least I think this is what I do.

I am very bad at directions. Usually I need a sat-nav for going anywhere in the car. I get teased a lot because I've lived in my city for seven years and still don't know my way around to different places.
I don't know if this is an Aspie thing or just me though.

I try to change my route to the same place, but I end up taking the exact same route, where I cross the road, where I join on the other side, etc... If I differentiate the route I can forget where I am going. I once was so lost in thought, I hadn't a clue where I was. Turns out subconsciously I was taking the same route as always back home. Looked around for a few familiar landmarks to be sure and a road name or two.

I have a lot of trouble navigating, and seem to need to use cues that others don't need. If somebody gives me a clear map (or better, if I draw my own) I can eventually find anywhere, but the info doesn't stay in my head long, I have to keep checking the map.

One of the first school lessons I badly flunked was drawing a map of the school. The problem was, the way they had us sitting, we had to draw the map upside down, compared to the actual school. I just got lost in trying to rotate all the info. Nobody else seemed to have a problem. I guess most people try to point a map in the same direction as reality if they're trying to read it, but with me it's a necessity.

Sometimes I just close the map book before I really feel I've taken in the route, and "trust in the Force" and try to let intuition get me there. It's been surprisingly effective - suggesting that I do have the necessary info and brain routines for the job, f only it were more reliable.

I can't easily take in verbal directions from passers-by, and when asked to give them, I can't often be of much help, even when I know the way, Occasionally I do quite well though.

I've lived in the same town nearly 10 years. I've lived in this area all my life. Still I can only drive to places that I've been to recently. And I go the same way every time. If the road is blocked off or detoured, I'm lost and I melt down.

I'm limited to a few stores, my therapist, and the kids schools. If I have to go someplace new, I am completely petrified. Especially if its something that comes up like someone calling me, "btw can you please stop by the hardware store and buy a hammer on your way home?" What?? I didn't go out to go there. I didn't know I was going there. I don't hknow how to get there. ????! !! ! /meltdown.

And yes, I see directions the same way. Picture landmarks but they aren't connected to anything. I can SEE a road, but I still have no idea how to get there. In all honesty this is one area that I rely on my husband for a LOT.

Its the reason I dropped out of college. After a year 1/2 I still couldn't find my way around campus. I would get lost trying to find my class. It was as if it was the first day every single day. For a few semesters I was able to find someone to secretly follow to class. Someone predictable that I knew would have the same routine every day so I could linger behind them and follow. When I lost that the next semester, I also lost the ability to find my class. High school was the same way. It was the major reason why I always had a boyfriend. Didn't matter who he was at all. He was someone that could walk me to my class and walk me to lunch. It took away some of that anxiety about finding my way around.

Yes I just used to tag along at school - didn't even know I was doing it, till the first time I got left behind. Didn't even know the room number, guessed it wrong, asked a teacher, who said "I haven't the slightest idea" - strange, I always thought teachers were traned to educate

I stick to the same few shops, and hate it when they revamp the interior so I have to learn where everything is all over again.

Visuospatial Disorientation?

I am always lost, including in indoor environments, and don't go outside unaided at all. I put this down to sensory overload/spatial difficulties.

Is the name you are looking for topographic agnosia?

i get lost all the time

recently got lost in DC during rush hour for 3 hours... was so freaked out. it's really stressful. i was really bad growing up, learning to drive... i'd be in another town or somethin and call my parents crying and everything and they'd have to google me directions and try to help me, with my vague descriptions of where i was.

I get lost all the time, even in my hometown. if you'd blindfold me and spin me around a few times I would no longer know where I am ;p

I noticed I don't get lost as long as I can relate to some landmark. in London I'm fine as long as I see the Canary Wharf, Centre Point or the Gherkin. otherwise I'm lost.

Was it topographic agnosia or topographic disorientation?

I can find my way around in if it comes to using the train, tram or bus, only not when walking.

Getting lost is a sure fire way to throw me into a panic attack. One of the reasons I call my husband "my navigator" is because he always helps me get where I need to go either he rides with me or via cell phone. We always make sure we have directions because he cant stand me when we get lost LOL.

getting lost is an AS feature and it is pathognomonic of Aspergers.

young adults/adolescents and children will describe getting lost at school.
adults wiull describe getting lost with road directrions and a preference for the same route and reluctane to deviate or take detours.

there is a standing joke that men dont ask directions, i never got this joke i always asked directions and still do.

I will definitely check these names out! I think it was the topographic agnosia, but I am not sure.



Thanx for this infomation too, all very helpful.

My Ocupational therapist tried to learn me to use landmarks, but up til now it doesn't really work for me... I remember the landmark, but I can't remember the street or place it is in. Not so useful eh I am still trying though, but I might give up pretty soon. I do calculate extra time with travelling, up to an hour and prepare every trip thouroughly, with maps and train/tram/bus scedules.
I do ask for directions, but most of the time I end up asking people in every single street. I find verbal directions quite difficult. When people ask me for directions most of the time I will say sorry i can't help you and if I do think I know the way I send people in the wrong direction, most of the time it's even the opposite direction.

I don't get the joke either, some guy recently asked me about social orientation.
He came to this site looking for friends, and finding himself.
Much to his surprise, after spending much time communicating with him, I told him to stop emailing me. I didn't like his asking why I said we had nothing in common.
Do you think he is lost? Do you think I should have given him directions?