Body Signals

The Heavy Stepper

For your guide

Choose your view

Explorer shows the broad version of the experience, without narrowing it to one neurotype.

Choose your view

Changing this updates how BirdStory explains experiences in your guide.

What do these views mean?

These views change the wording and examples BirdStory shows. They are not a diagnosis.

  • Explorer: A broad starting view for recognising patterns without choosing one neurotype.
  • ADHD: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Includes what some people still call ADD.
  • Autism: Autism spectrum. This view focuses on autistic patterns, sensory and social processing, predictability, and overwhelm.
  • AuDHD: A common shorthand for people who are both autistic and ADHD, or who strongly relate to both sets of patterns.
  • HSP: Highly Sensitive Person. Not a diagnosis, but a useful trait lens for sensitivity, depth of processing, and emotional or environmental intensity.

Pick the view that makes the experiences feel most recognisable.

Have people often commented on how loudly you walk, even when you aren't trying to?

Help someone understand this

Your feet can meet the ground with a firm, flat impact that feels completely ordinary from inside your body. Walking through the house comes with a solid rhythm that other people may notice before you do.

  • crossing a wooden floor with each step clearly audible
  • wearing through the heels of shoes in a familiar pattern
  • being surprised when someone asks you to walk more quietly
  • coming downstairs with a heavy step even when you're not in a hurry

Looks vs reality

The same Experience can look very different from the outside than it feels on the inside.

How it gets read

Looks like you're angry or stomping around.

What’s actually happening

Feels like my body is trying to wake itself up and shake off brain fog.

How it gets read

Looks like you're just clumsy or careless.

What’s actually happening

Feels like I need to hit the ground hard to know where it is.

How it gets read

Looks like you're being loud and inconsiderate.

What’s actually happening

Feels like my body is disconnected and I'm trying to feel present in it.

How it gets read

Looks like you're always in a frantic hurry.

What’s actually happening

Feels like my body is on autopilot and this is its default setting.

Understand what’s happening—and help someone else understand.

Create a free account to explore what may be behind this Experience, which Birds may be involved, and how to explain it to someone else.

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