hi there!! there are several types of shifts:

1. Mental shifts

Mental shifts occur when one's thought patterns fall into those of their theriotype, e.g. a cat therian may begin to think less in words and more in images and feelings. they may feel inclined to nudge up against surfaces, and may become very alert when spotting a small animal that cats would usually hunt. These shifts can last anywhere from a few seconds to hours, and while your thoughts may become more animalistic, you are still capable of human speech and thought as well as logic (although it may be uncomfortable to speak and act like a human while experiencing a mental shift!) Being in a mental shift will never excuse behaviour that harms others. You are still at least 90% in control of your actions and behaviours. 2. Phantom shifts

Phantom shifts are a phenomenon many therians (but not all!!) experience, where you may feel phantom appearances of your theriotype's physique. This could be feeling wings for bird therians, a tail for gecko therians, or tusks for a boar therian. Phantom shifts can be felt in several ways, from just an awareness of the limbs to full on sensation. For example, when sitting on a bench, if I moved my tail to touch the corner when I was experiencing a phantom shift of my dromeosaurid theriotype, I could accurately touch the corner with my finger without looking first try. When I moved my tail away, more often than not I could not accurately touch the corner with my finger the first try. I've also heard stories of therians accurately knowing when someone was behind them as the person was touching their phantom tail without knowing. This phenomenon has also been observed (and is more well documented) in amputees, who experience similar things.

3. Envisage shifts

Envisage shifts occur when one's brain automatically pictures their theriotype performing the tasks they are doing, instead of their human self. People have an awareness of their physical form as they go about their day, and many therians picture not their human form but their creature form, mostly entirely subconciously (but the more aware you become of this the more vivid it becomes). It can feel very peculiar when your brain is convinced that you look like an alligator while on a bus chock full of human passengers paying you no mind lol

4. Physical shifts

Many therians shun the idea of being able to physically shift into your theriotype, becoming it physically and leaving your human form- and thats because its completely impossible. (gotcha haha, you really thought) Physical shifts are, quite frankly, unfeasible. There has never been a documented case of humans transforming into animals, as this would mean completely destroying and rebuilding your DNA which would, well, kill you. Shapeshifting is thus far undocumented and scientifically impossible, sadly. If someone is claiming to be a physical shifter... they're lying. (man i wish tho, if only...)

Extra info!

- shifts of multiple theriotypes can be experienced at once (it can get really confusing, I once had the tail of a kaprosuchus and the beak of a kea. Sometimes you feel like a very strange frankensteins-moster-esque hybrid haha)

- multiple types of shifts can be experienced at once (full phantom, mental, and envisage shifts all experienced at once is a TRIP)

- Shifting can be a positive or negative experience

- Not all therians experience shifts and thats completely fine! You're still just as therian as the rest <333

- You can learn to control your shifts, however sometimes they are out of your control and you just gotta deal with them until they go away

- Everyone experiences shifts differently!! There is no one right way to experience a shift.

- There are many, many types of shifts, much more than I've covered here (exam month aaargh, busybusybusy) so research is recommended!!

I hope this helped! :D