Photographing as memory anchor in autism/ADHD

How photographing my surroundings relates to memory issues of auDHD?

QUESTION:

I have an interesting experience which I can't quite explain. As a photographer with auDHD, I feel a constant urge (especially on routine habits and new places) to capture everything as photographs, and it somehow is connected with memory and remembering that moment. Can this be related to different memory or time perceptions of ADHD or autism?

AI ANSWER:

Yes, this urge to capture everything, especially in routine habits and new places, can be deeply connected to the way memory, time perception, and sensory processing work in AuDHD.

1. Memory & Photography: Why Capturing Feels Necessary

Autism and ADHD both impact how memory is stored and accessed, and photography can become a way to reinforce, externalize, or “anchor” memories in a way that makes them more tangible.

• Object Permanence Issues (ADHD) → Many people with ADHD struggle with out of sight, out of mind thinking. A photo becomes proof that something existed, making it easier to recall later.

• Autobiographical Memory Differences (Autism) → Autistic individuals often process personal memories differently, sometimes struggling with retrieving past experiences. Photography can act as an external cue, helping to recall the sensory and emotional aspects of a moment.

• Hyperfocus on Patterns (Autism) → Taking photos in routine habits (e.g., daily coffee, the same street corner) might help create predictability and stability, reinforcing a sense of continuity in time.

• Time Blindness (ADHD) → ADHD can distort time perception, making moments feel fleeting or easily lost. A photo helps “bookmark” time and create a mental reference point.

2. The Emotional & Sensory Aspect of Capturing

Your urge to photograph everything may not just be about memory but also about how you experience the present moment.

• Photography as a Sensory Processing Tool → If a new place feels overwhelming, taking photos might help “freeze” the experience into manageable pieces rather than feeling flooded by too much input at once.

• Emotional Anchoring → Photos can serve as a way to attach emotions to a place or moment, making it easier to reconnect with that feeling later.

• Need for Control Over Time → Since AuDHD can make time feel either too fast or too slow, taking a photo might feel like grabbing hold of time before it slips away.

3. Other Neurodivergent Photographers & Memory

• Temple Grandin (Autistic Thinker) describes memory as image-based rather than verbal, meaning visual records feel more natural for remembering than words.

• Photographers like Vivian Maier & Nan Goldin used photography as a deeply personal memory tool, almost like an externalized journal.

• Some ADHD artists describe photography as “pausing” their world, helping them recall emotions and sensations they otherwise forget too quickly.

4. How to Work With This Urge (Instead of Against It)

If this urge feels compulsive or overwhelming at times, you might try:

✔ Setting intentional memory triggers (e.g., journaling alongside your photos, or taking fewer but more meaningful shots).

✔ Using photography as a storytelling tool, rather than just capturing for the sake of remembering.

✔ Exploring alternative forms of memory storage (e.g., voice notes, writing small reflections on your photos).