left–right processing weakness

Started by TheBigBlue, February 03, 2026, 06:01:04 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

TheBigBlue

Question for the group: does anyone else mix up left and right, especially under pressure? 🤔

I've noticed that unless I slow down and reason it out, my first instinct is often incorrect. It doesn't feel intuitive for me - it feels like something I have to calculate.
A typical comment from my driving instructor: "Turn right here ... the other right!" 😅

Just wondering how common this is here.

lowbudgetTV

Totally.

I think of my brain as always on, always thinking about something. Sometimes it's nonsense, sometimes its important. I've been experiencing this a lot at my job recently, where having conversations is awkward because I have to think and concentrate a bit harder.

Directions require not only understanding but then, i don't know, synthesis? You have to listen, understand and then point out the correct direction. Brains know its a direction, but there's only two, so it's easy to switch them up. Meanwhile, ironically, I'm very good at approximating the cardinal directions. North? I have what's essentially a satellite image in my brain of my surroundings, like Google Maps, and can figure it out. But right/left is weird, you have to place yourself. Now that I write it out, maybe it's because I'm a very disassociative person; I don't feel present in my body. Takes longer to figure out positions relative to me!