#maybe i am a physical therian

[stinky-canine]

the way I see my physical therianthropy is I am a dog I am I am, and that doesn’t reflect what I see in the mirror.

I know I am a in a humans body, but I wouldn’t say I’m a human in any aspect.

The way I explain it is, I wouldn’t call myself a duck just because I’m wearing a duck costume.

I’m a dog and a horse in a human costume.

I am not human.

I wish other alterhumans on therian guide and tiktok were more understandable and respectful of physical therians, because we are just as valid as other therians.

[primalshane]

Vent?? Question mark??

[razberrybones]

SHUT UPPP no bc i feel weird. I feel like im jsut being a little too dramatic and blowing things out of proportion, but also? I havent felt this comfortable in exploring my identity ever.

I'm a singlet but i jsut fee like theres SOO MUCH TO ME and its very very overwhelming at this time, along with stressing a teeny amount on if im even using the correct terms for how im feeling lol

Being a dog? perfectly fine. the breed changes and is typically multiple different ones? ahh I see, interesting. wolfkin? lovely i love her shes comfortable. WEREwolf kin? heavy heavy questioning probably not,,, maybe its my humanity frakenstining with my wolf aspect,,, Oh colorful chaotic space that is also friendly and theres sometihng inherently purple about it as a concept? jesus christ, it feels like it fills in all the other gaps or 'empty spaces' in my identity, love stars though, they feel good. Divine silly higher alien? o-oh,, okay! (i've known that one the longest silly enough) INK SANS?? im so dead, fucking ink sans,,, whatre u,, doing here,,, (<- also questioning) huh Oh hello dragon-y feelings, ily, i remember when u were super prominent back in the day :)

[zoppa682]

For any nonhumans struggling with species dysphoria, I want to help you all as much as I can. I've been experiencing it all week. It can be quite exhausting and put you in a lot of distress, in my case. X(

Here are some tips I'd recommend to help:

1. Mimic the diet of your kintype/theriotype. You are a shark? Eat seafood. A dragon? Maybe try to burn some food a little (or turn it black like my own preference if you want). You kin a character from [Insert source]? Try recreating foods/dishes from their world or dimension.

2. Listen to relatable music. I'd recommend making a playlist of any songs that feel species affirming/euphoric, or even echo that dysphoria further, therefore turning it relatable. (Few of my favorites are Bones by Imagine Dragons, Control by Halsey, Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land by MARINA, Momento Mori by Fish in a Birdcage, among other songs that feel therian coded to me).

3. Do vocals. Howling, barking, screeching, or roaring are very relieving if you are in the correct space to do them! If you are in a quite space or do not want to out yourself to anyone, try purring, growling, hissing, or other unnoticeable sounds. You have an object kintype? Mimic the sounds of the object, like beeping, clicking, etc. (I personally make microwave sounds just because it is fun). Recite voice lines of your kintype from the source they are in. Mimic their voice and volume to match.

4. Move and physically act like your kintype/theriotype. Quadrobics, mimic the flapping of wings, walk bidepedally, whatever you do, turn your mannerisms and motion to reflect your kintype/theriotype.

5. Dress like your kintype/theriotype. Is your kintype a character? Cosplay them, or mimic their clothing style, clothing color, hairstyle, etc. If they have tattoos, scars, or patterns on their body, copy them on your physical form with paint or pens. (PLEASE USE NON TOXIC MATERIALS. STUFF SAFE FOR YOUR HUMAN SKIN.) Are you a species of animal(s)? Dress in your species' colors, or, once again, paint or color yourself like it/them. Are you perhaps any other form of creature or object? You can use the same tips as the others, and another idea that works for all is that you can buy costume pieces of your kintype/theriotype. Masks, headbands, just normal clothing in general, the options really are infinite.

6. Express your dysphoria through artwork. I love doing art when I am heavily species dysphoric. Drawing, crafting masks, origami, painting, collages, all are forms of art. If you are skilled in music, then you could even create some songs of your own!

7. Go out and explore nature. This one is mainly targeted towards therians, whose types are grounded on the life on earth rather than other dimensions or universes, but just like the other methods, it can be universally used by any types of nonhumans. Collecting things is my favorite way of exploring nature. Collect rocks, shells, sticks, leaves, bugs, plants, anything that makes you feel more comfortable in your own (unfortunate) physical body. Stay grounded in the world around you and you may find the dysphoria slips away. Hiking and going on short walks can also help, building a den, smelling the scents of the outdoors. All great ideas that I personally recommend.

8. Write about your feelings. Whether you are good at expressing yourself through poetry, you keep a diary/journal, or you can project onto OCs for new backstory lore like I do, writing can truly help with any dysphoria. Not only that, but it is sometimes refreshing to come back later and read about what you were feeling before. It can serve as a great reminder that you are a powerful being and you will always overcome the feelings if you try.

9. Research about your kintype/theriotype. It does not matter if you are an animal, concept, or object from earth, a being from fantasy, or a character from the greatest book or show, you learn something new every day. So why not learn about yourself? Read books or watch animal documentaries of your theriotype(s), same thing for you otherkins and your fantasy species. Fictionkins can look up facts about themself as a character, their book, show, game, etc.

10. Talk and interact with other alterhumans/nonhumans. Remember, we are a community, and while you are experiencing horrible episodes of species dysphoria, there are many other beings going through the exact same thing at the exact same time. So why not talk to them about it? Share your experiences, help eachother cope, you may even connect with more individuals that way, building more relationships with others and meeting new beings.

11. Past life meditation. If you are a nonhuman who has a past life/lives, you may find comfort in meditation, where you can truly tap into what you once were, and still are in this life as well. Look to the forgotten, and turn in to remembered. Open up your past and live over again.

12. Listen to sounds. Nature sounds, voices of other characters you know from your world, vocals or sound effects of your kintype. These are all good options to turn to if you want to feel at ease with yourself.

13. Let your emotions out. Sometimes this is all you really need to do when species dysphoria hits hard. Cry, bite things, claw at pillows, LET IT OUT. There is absolutely no problem in being yourself and expressing your heavy emotions in your own, unique, nonhuman way. You may find you feel much better after.

That's all I've got, but I hope whoever/whatever reads this far has an amazing day/night. You are an amazing being, thank you for embracing yourself and living authentically. <3

[paradoxicalspacesoup]

I genuinely worry about a lot of the new and young otherkin/Alterhuman/Therians I see making intros on here...

For those of you who are introducing yourself to the community, I am so glad you're here!

But! There are some things you should NEVER disclose on the internet regardless of how safe you feel, and i think we need to have a talk, especially with all of the younger people coming into the community.

NEVER disclose your real name on the internet, especially on social media. Yes, it can make it easier to get acquainted with new friends, but it also makes it easy for bad people and creeps to look you up! Go with an alias or nickname (not your real nickname) you like, it's fun, simple and easy!

If you are a minor, I highly discourage disclosing your age. ESPECIALLY the actual number. Things like "minor" or "I am a minor" or "Age: minor" are marginally safer. HOWEVER, lots of times, even this can make you a target for creeps and groomers, and it WILL affect how people treat you on the internet, and usually not in a way you'd like. It may be good for finding people your age, but I believe the benefits do not outweigh the risks. Plus, birthdays are often used for security purposes and can give very important information to creeps and make you EVEN easier to look up just with google.

DO NOT disclose where you live beyond a very general region. I'm talking about your hemisphere or country only.

TLDR; make sure you're not making yourself an easy target for creeps to find you on the internet, any information you give can be used to find you and your physical location. Please stay safe! Protecting the community is what we all do best, but a whole lot of younger people did not grow up with the same guidelines as those of us born in the 90's and 00's.

And if you see someone on Tumblr with these things in their intro or bio, maybe we can talk about alternatives. Of course moderated discord servers can be a whole lot safer, and the general rules may change.

[canines-crown]

Got inspired by a mutual on Instagram to make this post

I've noticed that... I'm just not human. My body is, but my soul is not. It's not who I am...

When I first awakened as a therian I still felt very human. There were times where I felt so disconnected from my kintypes that I questioned if I was alterhuman at all...

But now? Now that's completely gone. I feel like an animal constantly. That doesn't mean I'm shifted, no. I simply lost my humanity... When I refer to myself as human it feels off, like calling myself by my deadname.

I know I am human. I even act human! I'm physically human, so my brain is too, meaning I have human instincts of course! But they don't make me FEEL human, they just remind me of the animal slumbering in all of humanity... How we have domesticated ourselves, how we don't embrace these animalistic urges anymore.

Idk I'm really just rambling... Maybe it's because of my neurodivergence but. I'm simply not human. I'm a dog, a fox, an insect... Whatever. But I'm not human. At this point I feel I never was to begin with

[ashen-vulture]

A Vulture In Therapy #3

The Appointment (Well, In A Few Months)

ashedink — 07/03/2024 10:15 AM

Hey so guess who just heard back from Doctor Erian's clinic after a month of waiting in the dark. I'm not scheduled until November, though Probably was too hopeful of me to think I'd have an appointment before my birthday

tigergirltail — 07/03/2024 10:17 AM Nice! Do you have an appointment then? Oh, heck, that's a ways off ashedink — 07/03/2024 10:18 AM November 14th, yeah But I guess it gives me time to prepare So… what should I expect going in? I've heard mixed things about Doctor Erian… tigergirltail — 07/03/2024 10:19 AM Oh boy that's the big question isn't it So for me, and I think for a lot of other people, he went right into the gatekeepy "one letter from a physician, two letters from psychologists, live as your preferred species for however many months" ashedink — 07/03/2024 10:21 AM He can't be too bad right? Oh yeah I've heard about the "live as preferred species" thing. Not sure he'll accept my response but that's one of the few things I am prepared for. tigergirltail — 07/03/2024 10:22 AM The thing is, I'm pretty sure it's all a secret test of your resolve and how well you match what you want He started hesitating once I got up in his face about how someone is supposed to live as a dragon for an entire year And he folded like a towel once I threatened to bite him But I saw him smirk, I think it was that I said 'bite' specifically ashedink — 07/03/2024 10:26 AM Huh. I guess I have some respect for that. Maybe a bitter respect but… uhg, I dunno, it's complicated. Like there are some things I certainly cannot physically do with my human body and that's the whole reason I want what I want. I really don't like arguing. This is gonna feel like my gallery capstone all over again. "No seriously I do know what I'm talking about, see it from this perspective" (strangling the Imposter Syndrome demon in the back of my head)

tigergirltail — 07/03/2024 10:27 AM Yeah I don't know if he would have approved it if I'd shown any kind of doubt But maybe it's different for non-predator theriotypes idk ashedink — 07/03/2024 10:30 AM Maybe. I wonder how they'll handle a scavenger. I guess there's only one way to know. Oh, do you know when you'll get your first prescription fill? Does it take a long time? tigergirltail — 07/03/2024 10:30 AM I'm supposed to get it in September, apparently if you're on gender hormones you have to wait for the one year mark, something about being 'biologically receptive' But you won't have that issue so you might get yours a lot sooner ashedink — 07/03/2024 10:33 AM I suspect part of the wait is having to formulate each therian's medicine individually. Giving me cat HRT probably isn't gonna turn me into a bird. tigergirltail — 07/03/2024 10:33 AM Yeah I guess this isn't One Size Fits Most like normal estrogen and testosterone are ashedink — 07/03/2024 10:36 AM Well. Nothing to do but wait now. Maybe getting on some of the Therian HRT support groups and hearing some more people's stories will help. Thanks for your input, hope your new therapy medicine arrives on time I might pester you with more questions in the future tigergirltail — 07/03/2024 10:37 AM Anytime! I'd be glad to help you along on this one ashedink — 07/03/2024 10:38 AM ^v^ (I've started using bird emoticons more, it's fun!) tigergirltail — 07/03/2024 10:38 AM I mean, you know how long I've been using cat emotes =3 So I get that

ashedink — 11/13/2024 11:01 PM

FIRST CONSULTATION APPOINTMENT TOMORROW WISH ME LUCK AAAAAAA- It's actually happening! It's actually happening!

tigergirltail — 11/13/2024 11:01 PM Gee I can't tell, are you excited? =3 ashedink — 11/13/2024 11:04 PM I am Anxcited Question: would it be considered too much if I came in with a folder of vulture facts outlining how similar humans and vultures are to each other, and how I've techincally been "living like a vulture" basically my entire life understanding that the parameters I need to fulfill exclude things that would literally kill me Because I already have the folder but now I'm second guessing myself and I can FEEL THE ANXIOUS INFODUMP INSTINCT I am either gonna say nothing at all or way too much HELP tigergirltail — 11/13/2024 11:07 PM Do it. Slap that gatekeepy doctor with every Cool Vulture Fact in your birb cranium Might improve your odds tbh ashedink — 11/13/2024 11:08 PM You are a cool and awesome friend and I am glad I have you to encourage me when I am a scattered anxious mess Thank you Alexis tigergirltail — 11/13/2024 11:08 PM You've got this Ash I believe in you =3

(featuring my long time friend and the person who acted as my gate into therian HRT, @tigergirltail)

[unetherian]

Things to do when you're a newly awakened alter/nonhuman!

[PT: Things to do when you're a newly awakened alter/nonhuman! end of PT]

[Sorry for any spelling or wording mistakes, I don't speak English fluently]

1/Make an alterhuman journal

Do you have an old, almost empty notebook that you haven't used since the end of your middle school years? Or a little notepad that you received for your birthday and that lies at the bottom of the drawer that you never open? Now is the time to use it!

Write in it your alter/nonhuman journey, what made you wonder if you are alter/nonhuman, the research to find your type, if you are otherlink, what made you choose your type, if you are physically nonhuman, a portrait of how you see yourself in everyday life,...

I will probably do a post in the future on what to put in your journal :3

2/Don't lie to yourself...

Some newly awakened alters/nonhumans intentionally cause false flashbacks or force themselves to shift to feel legitimate... No Don't do this, it's okay if you don't have flashbacks or past life memories, it's okay if you don't shift, it's okay if your type isn't considered "cool" or if it is considered "too common" or "too rare" to be valid. Same for polyalter/nonhumans, it's okay if you really have a lot of types, don't worry. You're valid. You are yourself. Don't lie, just let yourself exist.

3/Ask questions to educated alters/nonhumans

Asking questions is literally a cheat code for educating yourself! Don't be afraid to share your questions on this subject, you will get very rich answers. But be careful which being you are talking because maybe it is not very educated himself...

4/Be interested in categories of alter/nonhumans who do not have the same experiences/beliefs as you

It's really interesting to understand these other communities better. It makes me despair when I see beings insulting other beings because their experiences are different... Getting to know and respect others is the key to avoiding these kinds of situations.

5/Search for your type!

For alters/nonhumans whose identity is often difficult to identify (otherkin, plantkin, therian, etc.), I recommend doing a lot of research and introspection. Make a list of all the species that could match you, draw a profile, ... There are many different methods to find out who you are. But don't use tests like "What is your theriotype", they are really not reliable (for information I am a feline and I did two tests in one they said I am a wolf and in another a fox so... yeah) Searches can last months and even years, it doesn't matter if you don't find it right away or if you make a mistake. You will find it, I promise you :3

For identities where the type is often easy to find (otherhearteds for example) you are very lucky 😅

For those whose choice of type is often voluntary (otherlink, copinglink, ect) take personality tests, do some research on what you most want/need to be,... Don't worry, you have the right to change your type!

Some alters/nonhumans don't have types, but that doesn't stop them from doing introspection exercises anyway!

For those who have already found their type, nothing prevents you from doing other research (to write in your alter/nonhuman journal, perhaps), for example fun facts about your type, types of gears not very well known that you would like to buy/make, learn how to draw it, lern their body language etc.

6/Make a den/nest!

Some being really like to make a cozy little corner just to become a little being in their cabin, and others like to make a majestic pillow fortress to protect themselves from human society. Get your covers on, let's go!

You can also create them outdoors, on your territory. (Don't forget to hydrate yourself, especially if it's hot)

Torn from Therian territory made tutorials (on YouTube) for indoor and outdoor dens, I recommend them!

7/Try to shift (if you want to/can)/species euphoria

I know that some alterhumans don't shift, can't voluntarily shift, or just don't like it, but sometimes shifting can be liberating and cause species euphoria (the opposite of species dysphoria).

If you don't want to/can't shift you can also do activities that bring you closer to your identity!

8/Make a scent marker!

If your type is territorial, I highly recommend this! It's a kind of little "potion" where you can find your scent + some plants that remind your scent and your territory, and you can spray it in your territory. Some beings add a little essential oil. Torn also made a video on the subject, "How to make a scent marker?".

⚠️Do not use environmentally harmful elements in this "potion"!⚠️

9/ Try activities related to your type/identity!

In our communities, when we talk about connecting with our identity, we often think of gears, quads, vocals,... But there are many other ways to get closer to your alter/nonhumanity! For example, a therian Ibex can practice rock climbing, a spacekin can learn astrophotography, an ockin can write a whole universe around his oc, a naturesoul can keep a journal where it tells all his past incarnations,... All forms of art can bring you closer to who you really are! (drawing, animation, story/poetry/song writing, music, etc.) No need to be an artist with incredible talent, try and have fun, it will already be a thousand times better than nothing! Even if you haven't found your type yet, let yourself be guided by your instincts and what makes you tick!

10/Read positive things about alter/nonhumanity

Sometimes, with the dramas, the insults from the anti, the non-accepting people, the doubt of really being an alter/nonhuman, the imposter syndrome,... There are times when you feel horribly wrong and misunderstood.

I really understand how it feels, when I first came into the community I was constantly asking myself "am I really therian?" "Is this just a teenage fantasy in search of identity?" "No one will support me..."And sometimes I would go on YouTube to take my mind off things and I would come across a stupid video that invited alter/nonhumans to commit the irreparable.

During this time I was only focusing on the negative part of being an alter/nonhuman. But, we must not forget these positive sides. We tend to talk more about our problems on Tumblr because for many, it's the only place they can confide freely. It's a way of "getting your emotional juices out", it's like therapy for some. But in reality, there are many positive and fun sides to being alter/nonhuman. It's true that by forgetting all that, it's more complicated to accept yourself as you are. Written alterhuman/nonhuman/objectkin/otherlink/therian/otherkin/ect positivity on Tumblr. You'll find so much comfort there!

I hope this helped you, remember, as long as you don't hurt anything or anyone intentionally, you are completely valid! You have the right to be yourself.

Take care of yourself, drink water and have an amazing day/evening/night!

Bye!

[stinky-canine]

CW drugs

please scroll if this will make you uncomfortable!!!

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So me and my friend did a psychedelic drug two days ago and ever since then I have been in a constant shift.

Pretty normal for me sometimes, it’s nothing new.

However, now whenever I’m around humans I am just CONFUSED. They’re all so strange and weird and they’re all walking around and doing things and I don’t understand any of it.

Without thinking of how to do things myself, I can do them. Like for example if I need to use my phone, my hands know exactly how to work to use it.

However, sometimes my brain will stumble and I’ll fuck up somehow, like forget what app I need to open.

And walking has become so strange and uncomfortable for me. I have to copy humans movements or watch my friend walk first to know how to, or just repeat “left right” in my head many times to be able to.

I’ve also forgot how society works and I have to keep asking my friend why humans do certain things, or why they have certain beliefs.

Basically I don’t feel human in any way at all, more so than I usually do. I look down and feel very uncomfortable, or just confused with what I see.

[quoigenicfromhell]

The thing about transX is that like. As a transgender person. Generally speaking 'I want to be this thing but I am not' is...frankly, maybe a bit of an internalized transphobic idea of what being trans is.

I'm trans. I'm nonbinary. Physical transition is a process but even if I do not physically transition I still *am* the gender that I am.

For shit like transplural, I get that someone might have an attachment to the label. But if you're willogenic it might just be hindering you. If you're willogenic you're plural, there's no transition. You just are. You can just say you're plural. If you say you're transplural I feel like you're just validating feelings of inadequacy with your plural identity.

Ftr, I also hate 'transtherian'. I *am* nonbinary, i don't *want* to be nonbinary. Therianthropy is a purely internal identity. I *am* a wolf therian, I didn't *become* one. You cannot 'transition' to that, you can maybe realize your therianthropy later in life as most of us did, but there is no physical transition. You are or you are not.

[muzzleoleum]

i have a question for yall, what do you guys think the most important non-human terms are?

not saying like which are more valid, im asking if someone didn't know where to start in figuring out where they fit or what/who they are, what terms would be a good place to start exploring experiences and where someone fits?

i need to make a list of some terms for my partner so i can help them out n make them feel better about it :3 im going to include shifting and holothere n stuff, therian, alter human, etc etc but i was wondering from the community what has helped yall the most!!! either in figuring out how you identify as non-human or what in particular you are!! maybe i will make a long post with my list for anyone who needs it!! (after my partner of course, im sorry yall /lh)

any kind of non-human/alter-human please interact!! physical, psychological, spiritual, voluntary, involuntary, PLEASE interact and talk about your experiences :))

(for some extra context, and particularly for the love of my life, space, celestial, and deer identities that are more niche would be very very appreciated so i can relay it to them bc they don't have tumblr, yet..)

(i have always known and been certain in what i am so i haven't really had the experience of having to figure these things out as much (besides finding an adequate term) so i genuinely just want to help them as much as possible, because i love them so so deerly <333 (ehe deer-ly)

[can1nezz]

explaining my therianthropy

so the experience of being a therian is completely different for everyone, no 2 people are the same. but for me, i feel a super really deep connection to my theriotypes. and i super duper identify with all of them!! i feel as if that is me, maybe not completely physically, but COMPLETELY mentally. some of my theriotypes are more like...inferior than others? if you get what i mean? like my hissing cockroach theriotype is nowhere NEAR as mained as my canines ones, idk how to really explain it?? like i feel more connected to some of my theriotypes rather than others, like i dont completely identify as a hissing cockroach, but i am almost completely and totally a canine, get waht i mean?

[hidden-among-stars]

Fitting In - or The Lack Thereof (A Stream of Consciousness Essay?)

I often think about my place under the label of therianthropy and the way I often feel like I still don't quite fit in. It's odd - I can blame that feeling on a lot of things, but none of them seem to give the full story behind it.

Maybe I don't fit in because I'm an adult, and so many therian spaces are filled with kids. There's definitely some truth to that, but then I go into therian spaces with solely adults and I still feel like I don't quite fit in.

Maybe I don't fit in because I don't experience the act of shifting between a more human and a more animal state, and so much of the therian experience seems to be focussed on what it's like to shift. And there's some truth to that too, but there are plenty of therians who don't shift at all, and I still feel like I don't quite fit in with them either.

Maybe I don't fit in because I only have one theriotype. Which is ridiculous, because a lot of folks only have one theriotype... And I still don't quite fit in with them either.

Maybe I don't fit in because I'm a contherian with experiences that have stayed steady through my entire life, from practical infancy up to now 25 years later. But there are other contherians out there, and I still don't quite fit in with them either.

Or maybe it's because of my anymic identity - inherently I won't quite fit in with anyone because my species identity doesn't really match anyone else's, let alone anything that is known to exist. But it's still not quite that either, because there are lots of anymic therians experiencing what it's like to be something without name and potentially without equal, and I still feel like I don't quite fit in with them.

In reality it's probably a mixture of all of those things, but that still doesn't seem to be the answer. In all of those cases I still should fit in somewhere, and yet here I am, feeling like I don't.

The question of whether or not my identity's "origins" have anything to do with why I still feel like I don't belong has definitely crossed my mind a few times - so many folks can fit theirs into neat categories as past lives, spiritual, psychological, etc., but I'm certainly not one of them. Somehow it feels like I am all of those and also none of them at the same time.

I feel like maybe I was just born with the wrong soul in the wrong body - that's spiritual for sure. And I feel like maybe my brain is just completely and totally wired wrong - that's psychological. But there's something else. Something not quite spiritual and not quite mental.

I started to wonder if maybe I'd feel more at home with the holotheres and physical therians, but no, definitely not there either - I understand that I'm in a human body, I am under no impression that I currently physically am my theriotype in any way (and my species dysphoria won't let me forget that). So it's not really a current physical identity. I'm also under no impression that I can physically transform into my theriotype in any way, so it isn't Clinical Lycanthropy either.

There is something viscerally physical about it, though. I never really believed that I could physically transform or that this body was entirely nonhuman, but I absolutely believed that someday I would break free from my human skin and become my nonhuman self. I believed it lived just underneath my skin and that when I became an adult, it would emerge and I would be free from my human existence. Obviously that never happened, as I sit here 25 still painfully human in shape and form - and painful it is, as my body has seemed to continuously deteriorate as I grow. What started as just severe asthma and immunodeficiency transformed into multiple physical disabilities over the years.

My disabilities, my chronic illnesses, these have nothing to do with my nonhuman identity. Logically, I know that. Emotionally, it feels like my body is rebelling against its own existence, as if it is rejecting the mind and the soul that are so unfit for living within it, willing to sacrifice itself in the name of eliminating the viruses that are the spirit and brain that don't belong inside it. This is one of those experiences that I can confidently say I have never seen mirrored in the alterhuman community in any way - maybe i just haven't been in the right spaces to hear about it, or maybe it's just too heavy of a topic for most folks to talk about, or maybe I really am alone in this experience.

Circling back to my younger self's belief that my nonhuman self physically existed just underneath my human skin, I can't blame them for feeling that way. This is another experience that seems either non-existent or extremely rare in the community: my phantom appendages feel nothing like what most folks describe them as. I feel them in their full forms, but those full forms feel ghostly - they "clip" through things, I am fully aware that they aren't actually there. That in and of itself seems to be a fairly common experience... but for me it's combined with another sensation. I can feel these things - the wings, the tail, the claws, the teeth, the ears - as if they are physically trying to push through my skin. It's not pain, but it's a strange sort of pressure. I wish I could explain it better, but... just imagine. Imagine feeling as though there are other limbs or different appendages just beneath your skin, pushing to break free, constantly, all the time, every day, for as long as you can remember. It's uncomfortable, it's awkward, and it gets even more uncomfortable when the ghostly versions of the limbs "clip" through things. A signal seems to get sent from where they phase through whatever they're phasing through, all the way to the point where I feel like the physical versions are trying to push out from - that results in an even more uncomfortable tingling/pulsing sensation, both from that basal point and from wherever the "clipping" is happening. This kind of an experience is another one that I have not yet seen mirrored in the community - whether or not others experience it, I don't know, but it's a point of mental contention for me. Others explain their phantom shifts and I just cannot actually relate to it. I feel like what I experience is so fundamentally different, and it's another reason why I often feel like an outsider in the community.

As I continue to ruminate on this feeling of not belonging in a community that I should belong in, I come up with so many answers - like the way I've always known I was nonhuman but how my exact species identity, despite having many consistencies between them all, was so difficult to figure out, and how I still feel like I don't have a full grasp on exactly what it looks like. Every time I try to imagine exactly what it looks like, the image is blurry, shadowy, not quite whole - I can make out the vague shape, I can see its golden yellow eyes, but that's about it. And then I wonder if maybe this thing must be some kind of a past life identity, maybe I'm seeing it through its own eyes, not quite able to recognize itself beyond the most basic shape and the eyes, but it doesn't feel like a past life. It doesn't feel like a current or future life either, though. It just feels like the life I was supposed to be living, a life I keep running and reaching toward but always falling short.

And then I think about the way the community talks about shifting, or the lack thereof. As I said, I don't shift, I just constantly experience everything all the time. But what I mean by that seems so different from others. Other contherians exist as both human and nonhuman simultaneously - I seem to exist solely as nonhuman, only human in physical form, and via masking. When I fully allow myself to unmask, there is nothing human about me other than my body. Those who have seen it will attest. It's disturbing to witness, it's uncanny - it skips past cringe and dives straight into "would be seen in a horror movie" territory, apparently. The way I move, the way I react, the way I sound (if making any sound at all), the way I stand (or don't stand, if I'm somewhere where I can physically be on all fours), I become something seen as monstrous in the eyes of orthohumans and alterhumans alike. It isn't my species identity that is monstrous - on the contrary, my species identity poses little to no threat to humans - but I suppose it comes down to the idea of the uncanny valley. When I fully unmask, it becomes glaringly obvious that I am something inhuman in a human's body. I have seen the reactions some nonhuman identifying folks have had to me being mostly unmasked - in the case of one, seeing me fully unmasked - and it becomes clear that, even though none of us identify as human, there is something different about my identity. There is something fundamentally different about the way I experience it.

I want so badly to know that my experience isn't the only one of its kind, I want so badly to know that i have a place in this community (and that I have a place in this world, frankly), but I keep trying, and I keep coming back over and over to the realization that what I go through lies in some liminal space where I definitely don't fit in with orthohumans but I don't quite fit in with other nonhuman identifying folks either.

I'm not leaving the community, it's still the closest I have to finding others even vaguely like me, but I fear that "out of place" feeling will never go away. That I'll never actually find the place where I really belong.

[noverbee]

TL;DR: Person who doesn’t know what is happening believes they may have experienced plurality (???). If anyone has any advice or research they could suggest, it would be very appreciated! /gen

Can I ask for some help? I don’t entirely know what is going on or what to do or what it means, but to put it into more friendly terms, an ongoing trauma just reared its head because of someone that I am stuck living with. I wont go into detail.

But when it happened, I think- well the only term I know is shifted, as a therian- but i don’t think i was me? I saw (in my minds eye) Gon Freeces of all people/characters screaming at this person. Nothing came out of my mouth. But like i heard his voice in my head yelling his thoughts? And then I dissociated, still very much feeling the pain. When I got back to my bedroom finally, I was rapidly switching between having a breakdown and sobbing, to his voice quietly soothing me and calmly getting ready for work. After I had changed, I barely remember going down the stairs and out to my car. All I remember is physically staggering as I closed the gate.

Lately, I have had the inkling that maybe i am part of a system? (Thank you @stars-the-architects for helping me with terminology) I promise I have no negative intention, i am just extremely uneducated and confused and the whole reason I am sharing this here is because if anyone has any research recommendations or citations that they’d be willing to share I would be extremely thankful. 

To be honest, I have no idea where to start when it comes to research. I have done some research on DID because an ex of mine was also in a system, but I will admit that I did not understand many of the scientific research articles I read.

EDIT: thank you so much to everyone who gave me some advice or even just positive vibes. They are so appreciated♥️

[canines-crown]

Woof! Hello! Slightly odd question, but I was wondering if there was an alterhuman label for those who feel connected to a species, like it is you, but it isn’t exactly? Like it’s you, but you don’t identify as it on any specific level. Like, sorry I’m really bad at wording this lol- like, you’re this thing, say, a crow. And you are a crow. But you don’t know what level(s) the crow identity is on. Like you don’t know if it’s spiritual or physical or something. Idk maybe I’m just stupid but I have been seriously considering cryptids and crows being on this awkward level of identity of “I don’t know where the fawk this is coming from but it feels REALLY right” - A somewhat worried and confused wolf therian anon

So, I'm not the most educated individual when it comes to therianthropy (which is why I'm calling my moots to help me on this (hi guys, please help me lol)) but I don't actually know a specific term for what you feel like...

Hm

Alterhumanity can stem from many different things, but some alterhumans don't know where exactly their identity came from, and that's completely normal I think?

Take me for example... I know I am a serval. I know I am this soul thing. Where did that come from? No idea. It just popped into my head and I IMMEDIATELY knew that it was me. I never even THOUGHT about servals before, I just knew I was one all of a sudden?

In the beginning of the ask you also mentioned that you don't feel like it's exactly you? It could definitely be a form of otherheartedness if you don't feel like you actually are that being? Connections can be really strong and tricky!

I'll just go give you my number one trick, that being to just call yourself a crow, say that you're crowkin (or cryptidkin) and see how it makes you feel!

But yeah, that's where my wisdom ends, rip

MOOTS

Assemble!!!/lh

[a-real-cruxdog]

Dog's Nonhuman Blog

About Me: ~~~

❥ I go by Dog! ❥ Androgyne + Femboy + Xenogender + Intersex + Transmasc (He/It/That) ❥ GreyAroAce + Biromantic / Bisexual ❥ Mid 20's ❥ Polykin Furry (Fictionkin + Omnitherian + Endel + Transspecies) (Psychological, physical, and spiritual nonhuman) ❥ I am an amalgamation of many different things. Though my biggest 'types are cherub angels and the crux (the furry species, not up to date sadly). ❥ Eclectic Pagan (Mostly Kemetic and Luciferian beliefs) ❥ Interests: Art, animation, music, horror, vulture culture, alternative culture and fashion, old technology, animatronics, nature, animals and bugs/zoology + biology, true crime, aesthetics, old shit in general and history, spirituality, internet history, medicine + anatomy and physiology, paleontology, Venture Bros

More about me and the blog below...

DNI: ~~~ ❥ Under 18.

About Blog: ~~~

❥ This is where is post nonhuman, spiritual, cultural, and furry things. It's a celebration of life and art in all it's forms, including humanity!! ❥ I interact from @oxycodonesuppository ❥ I do not tag things well sorry maybe don't follow if you do not like gore, dead animals, or bugs.

Other Places To Find Me (All 18+ Please): ~~~

(Tumblrs:) ❥ @oxycodonesuppository - Main blog. Just whatever shit. ❥ @dogcrux - My art blog. ❥ @nothing-az - Me + art inspiration blog. ❥ @computerjerky - Objectum + NSFW blog. Hardcore fetish content warning. ❥ @totallygarnular - Fandom blog. (Other Sites:) ❥ Furaffinity - Strictly Furry Art + Furry NSFW. Hardcore fetish content warning. ❥ Inkbunny - Also strictly Furry Art + Furry NSFW. Hardcore fetish content warning. ❥ Bluesky - All art minus hardcore fetish content.

Other Info: ~~~

❥ I am schizoaffective, autistic + ADHD, OSDD-1a, and have dysautonomia plus fibromyalgia. More but these are the only ones I will occasionally post about here, as I feel they are relevant to my nonhuman experiences. ❥ I forget things a lot and forget to tag things, send a message or an ask if you need something tagged or anything else. ❥ I love making friends! Please feel free to send a DM or ask. Only adults though, please. ❥ Because of my therian identity, I find feral animals and beasts the most appropriate to express and explore my own sexuality, queerness, kinks, traumas, and so forth. ❥ I do not condone any heinous fetishes I may draw or interact with irl, my NSFW art and interests is strictly fantasy. While I do not plan to post anything exceptionally pornographic (nothing outside of tasteful nudity), and I do not care if you don't personally support my expression of queerness and sexuality, I do ask you are respectful of it towards me.