eyes on the ground while walking

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I still do this, but I know it was worse when I was younger. I remember teachers telling me I was going to end up with back problems if I didn't stand up straight as I walked. I think there's a lot to the idea it has to do with avoiding eye contact/unwanted conversation. I know it was a self-esteem thing with me when I was younger too.

I do it a lot outside, but that's because that blasted sun is way too bright. Sometimes I have to totally close my eyes when the sun is out, or close one and squint the other. My mom (who we're both pretty sure has SPD) taught me that when I was a kid complaining about how bright it always was outside. I never would have thought closing one eye would help since the other is open, but I guess it's still a reduction in stimuli so it makes more sense now.

Anyway... I think I do tend to look at the ground anyway, I especially did that in the halls at school. I can't really tell why though, maybe I just didn't want to make eye contact or have someone I know say hi to me, I just wanted to continue thinking.

I do the exact same thing when I walk, for much the same reason. I grew up in an area where the sidewalks were cracked and uneven, and I would trip on them and fall a lot if I didn't look out for obstacles in my path.

Have pretty much always done this. I have very bad balance and like to make sure where my feet are going to land; otherwise I trip easily or twist my ankle. I also like to walk with a hiking stick outdoors for that added balance.
Indoors I'm not quite so careful but still keep me eyes down anyway to avoid having to look at people around me.

I always walked looking just beyond my feet until someone once said to me: "If you look up when you walk, you can see the glorious world better!" I thought about this, and looked at other people walking for a day, and decided to try it. You would have laughed (I did years later): When I first tried it (in private) I was so awkward I actually fell down.

That was also when I found how stiffly I had been walking and how other kids swung their arms when they walked. I practised this until (at least to me) I walked like everyone else.

Duplicated post: Sorry.

I used to do it so much until people pointed out how stupid I look when I walk. Now I only do it when people aren't noticing me at the moment.