Is knowing which way is left or right as automatic as up and down?

[Dramatic]

Saw a video online about this, apparently for some people knowing their left and right is as automatic as knowing up and down. Is this you?

I struggle so much, I can be confidently saying left and pointing right or vice versa and when someone gives a direction it takes me a good few seconds to know which way they mean. Whereas if someone said up or down it would be instant.

YABU left and right are as easy as up & down
YANBU left and right takes a few more seconds to think about/I quite often get it wrong

I'm same as you. I have to think about it every time and I still don't understand stage right and left. Like I do understand that what is left for actors on stage is the opposite of what left is for the audience. But to work out what that is is like solving a long multiplication sum in my head.

I am otherwise a fairly intelligent person but my brain has never fully absorbed left and right.

No. Me and left and right aren’t friends.

Nope, I still get laughed at when I hold up my hands to check which one has the L shape so I know which is left.

I struggle too, I have to put my hand up to see which hand I write with so I know.
I'm the worst person to ask for directions! 😂 I feel your confusing pain

I do know mine reliably but it definitely isn’t as instinctive as up and down…there must be some sort of psychological difference (relating to the effects of gravity perhaps?!) I’ve never met a child of school age who gets up and down confused but I’ve met plenty who don’t know left and right so I think it must be universally harder for at least the vast majority…

Yes im the same as up and down. Its instant.

I'd imagine no, because you have to teach children. But I think after a certain age it's expected you will know

For some yes, but not all. I have a friend who really struggled with this and we ended up saying bracelet, instead of left and that worked for her, as she had an appalling sense of left / right, but was able to associate the hand she wore her bracelet on instantly as the direction in which to travel / move. 'No bracelet' for right worked too, but why she struggled with us just saying left or right defeats me!

No, not all. Some people really struggle with it. For some reason, I can't distinguish left from right when reversing in the car! 😂😂

I do know - but for some reason I always double check by glancing at my wedding ring as that confirms which is left.

My ASD son struggles a bit with this, but since learning to drive it's got better because he knows the gear stick is on the left.

If you find this tricky, hold your index fingers and thumbs at right angles. Which hand makes a capital L for left?

Honestly drives my OH up the wall. I seriously need and L and an r tattooed on my relevant hand and I could probably still get it wrong!!

I thought I'd google and it's a thing!
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230112-why-some-people-cant-tell-left-from-right

I struggled into my 30s with left and right. My mother was convinced it was a form of stubbornness, just to spite her. I don't think everyone finds it quite as hard.

I struggle.

Definitely not! My brain has a complete block on left and right. I can write with both hands, so that doesn't help either. If I hold my thumbs at right angles, I'd really struggle to tell which made L the correct way!!! I have to really think about it.

It's not as obvious to my brain as up and down is, I need to have to quickly organise my thoughts before I commit to saying left or right.

I really struggle with this, especially when having to think fast (driving or giving directions). I can very easily think about it and confidently say left when I mean right.

My mum's the same. My dad has no problems, neither does my partner.

No I dont know my left and right that easily but Im better than OH who certainly doesnt, causes arguments in the car

And dont get me started on people that talk about North, East and what not, I have no clue what you are talking about

i have to focus and give it a moments thought, not natural at all for me. i'm fairly ambidextrous.

It's instinctive for me. Father and daughter are both clueless

I have to think about it every time. It's one of the reasons I've never wanted to drive.
How do people with this problem drive or are we all non-drivers.
I have huge problems giving and following directions.

I have to think about it for a second (and imagine the L on left hand).

I am the same as you OP, I have to think about it. My dm is not a fan of me navigating her driving in an unfamiliar place; I often gesture one way while my mouth says the other.

Because unless you're telling someone to go left or right, or someone is telling you to go left or right, you know which way you're going, you dont need the name of which way you are going