As a high-functioning autistic person, the description of being “a half-step outside the frame” perfectly captures the way I live.

I am, and have always been, aware that I am experiencing the world and my own sense of self slightly removed from how people typically experience the world. It is very much like playing a first-person game with the POV set so the view is through the character’s eyes, but you remain aware that you are controlling an avatar in the game nonetheless.

Edit: interesting how they describe the degraded sense of proprioception as part of the cause, given it is often a problem for autistics.

I had a similar reaction to this article. "Why are they talking about these returned astronauts feeling like I feel all the time?"

I recently got diagnosed with ADHD after talking with a doctor on my wife's insistence after she looked up symptoms and spent days arguing with me that I was a walking example of them, and I suspect I have mild autistic traits as well (not diagnosed and not gonna self-diagnose without more confidence).

I'll raise your video game analogy with my pinball analogy: you press some buttons and some flappers move, and off your life goes careening around some path until you once again get an opportunity to press some buttons. The ball almost never goes where you want or expect it, but it's sure interesting and shiny to watch.