I'm fairly new here even if my profile is 5 years old. (Things got busy and I forgot about this website.) I have heard a lot about things like shifting, and was curious. As I have no basis for what a shift means without examples I must ask; For people who do experience them, regardless of degree, what are they like for you?
I figured it might help not only me, but others who are unsure or knew if we could get some stories about shifting. For the most information if possible I'd like to find stories of shifts people have had from small ones to large ones, and in a variety of situations.
I looked to see if another such topic exists. I am sure one probably does, but could not find it.
How does someone know what is or isn't a shift? I guess where is the line between animalistic desires and a shift? With phantom shifts that's clear, but mental shifts seem a bit confusing.
I suppose I should give an example. It's not much because I am not confident in where the boundaries are, but the only thing I am sure is probably a shift is something that happened years ago, though I couldn't say when. But I remember the feeling of having phantom fur. It didn't last long, but for a while I felt so soft and fluffy. For things I am less sure of... Occasionally I have the desire to lay out in the sun and warm my fur, only to be slightly dissapointed. But I have never experienced any state where I wasn't aware I was human.
(2025-07-25 5:19)Mai Wrote: [ -> ]How does someone know what is or isn't a shift? I guess where is the line between animalistic desires and a shift? With phantom shifts that's clear, but mental shifts seem a bit confusing.
To answer your question, i am unsure of that. I havent been able to remember what happened in the shifts. Mental shifts can be triggered by strong emotions like stress, extreme anger or saddness, or just randomly sometimes. There is a line between animalistic desires and a shift. That line is that shifts are mostly involuntary meaning they happen whenever or when someone is triggered. What do you mean by animalistic desires?
(This is just from my own experience, i dont know if im exactly right or not)
Well, for example. The other day I was feeling lonely, but that emotion expressed in a more animalistic way. I didn't want a hug, I wanted someone to headbut and nuzzle, sort of rub my head and neck with, like some cats, big of small. But I was perfectly aware of myself and my human body. I certainly remember it. I am unsure wether that was a form of weak shift, or just a typical desire expressed in an animalistic way.
for me most of my shifts are phantom shifts and it kinda just feels like...umm...idrk, like kinda feeling like you have a part of your body that isn't there, and I can like feel it move and stuff but ik its not really there so it's wierd, I also don't know if this is a shift but I do tend to jump around and play in a more animalistic way, like if I'm alone in my room or outside with my neighbors dog then I'll run with her or also like just other stuff like that, idk how to explain a lot of it, I'm sorry
Um my shifts are rare but most common are mental shifts. I have never experienced phantom shift. So when I am shifted I want to do more animalistic sound such as meowing, howling, growling. I am more primal and I often want to cuddle or do playfull fights. Also I became more animalistic in basic behaviour. That means I will growl or hiss when somebody is threating me or my friends, or I will be whining when I am scared. Also I like to tilt my head and listwn to sounds and body language. Because I dont wxperience strong shifts and I am always lil shifted it is hard to tell. It is pretty much like ypour whole mind suddenly switch and my instincts are sharper bc I am more fo used on it. I will start thinking just slightly differently that humans. Just like wilf. Hope it helped.
