Hello! This isn’t what I usually share, but I just thought I could inform a few people (: Also I made this in a rush so correct me if I made any mistakes! Many people describe therianthropy as just “acting like an animal” or just wearing tails and meowing. Not at all, no. And no, before you question it, therianthropy has NOTHING to do with furries or being a furry, as being a furry is a choice while being a therian is not. I myself do not like seeing people associating therians with furries, though I have nothing against those people. Also you do not need to wear a mask and/or tail in order to be a therian. There are also many fake therians who have no idea what a therian even is. Well here’s that information for you! And stop faking because this isn’t supposed to be some fun hobby! Being a therian can cause major dysphoria and mental health issues. (Therianthropy) What being a therian really is, is basically associating your identity with an animal. This is NOT a choice, as you cannot choose to become a therian. Not exactly identifying as an animal, just associating your identity with one. (So no, this isn’t anything similar to “changing species” as that is invalid) (Paleotherian) A Paleotherian is a therian that identifies with an extinct animal. (Thereotypes) A thereotype is the type of animal that a therian identifies with. Example: “I am a cat therian, which means my thereotype is a cat.” (I’m not actually a cat therian) Yes, it is possible to have multiple thereotypes. (Otherhearted) Being otherhearted is when you have a spiritual connection to certain animal(s). In some cases, people who are otherhearted have past lives as animals. A majority of otherhearts are therians. (Otherkin, also known has thereomythic) An otherkin is similar to a therian, but a mythological animal instead of an animal of our nature. Otherkin is also used as an umbrella term for non-specific identities. Some types of otherkin can be: Dragonkin (identifying with dragons) Griffonkin (identifying with griffons) Angelkin (identifying with angels) Phoenixkin (identifying with phoenixes) Etc. (Kintype / kin-type) A kin-type is the creature, character, etc. that an otherkin identifies with. Same meaning as thereotype except with otherkins, fictionkins, etc. (Fictionkin) Being a Fictionkin means that you identify with a fictional character, or multiple. As many people might say that this type of identity is invalid, it IS in fact completely valid, and some people even use this as a coping mechanism. Being a Fictionkin is partially a choice, while otherkin and therianthropy are not choices. ____________________ How to know if you are a therian Well, you’ll never really *know* for sure that you’re a therian unless your thereotype magically spoke to you and said “you’re a wolf in your mind, it’s true!! You’re one of us!” Because that’s not possible :,) Many therians find out through dreams about their thereotype, while others can feel it when they see their animal. One uncommon way that therians find out is called shifting. Shifting is how I found out that I am otter-hearted :) (Types of shifts *thanks to the therian fandom wiki for this portion of info!*) Mental shift (MS or m-shift) A change in mindset, thinking more like the theriotype. Phantom shift (Ph-shift) Feeling supernumerary phantom limbs or a full phantom body of the theriotype. Sensory shift (SE or Se-Shift) One's senses temporarily become more like that of the theriotype. Perception shift (PE-shift) Perceiving things in a way which is more associated with the theriotype. Emotional shift Shifting occurs during a certain emotional state, e.g. stress or anger; usually with another type of shift. Dream shift(DS or d-shift) Becoming an animal within a dream, either partially or entirely. Cameo shift (C) Feeling like an animal that is not a known theriotype. (Species Dysphoria) Many say that species dysphoria is a fake and transphobic term, that is VERY INCORRECT! No therians are transphobic, and it needs to stay that way. Species dysphoria is a completely real thing, and can actually have some of the same affects as gender dysphoria, but shouldn’t be nearly as bad. Species is Dysphoria is an issue that many ‘kins, therians, and otherhearts can constantly struggle with. It’s basically when they feel as if they’re in the wrong body, and it can cause mental problems if it gets too bad. (Alterhuman) Alterhuman is a term that refers to someone who does not fit the traditional standard of what is considered human, and/or does not identify as human. This is an umbrella term that therianthropy also goes under, while other parts of this may have to do with systems or other types of nonhuman identities. You can shift by going to a quiet place and focusing on your connection with your thereotype. Usually people mediate or go in the habitat of their thereotype and that works as well. But some therians can’t shift, and that’s okay :)
(Types of therian *thank you to the therian-guide for this portion of info!*) Polytherian: A therian possessing multiple theriotypes at the same time, and can experience anything possible for each of them. Some of these types may appear more important than others, but it's not always the case. Nonshiftingtherian: A therian who does not experience shifts under any condition, but still identifies as non-human through other means. Contherian: A kind of nonshifting therian that has similar experiences as other therians but who do not shift- rather, they are constantly shifted into an animal state, with no variation. Suntherian: A kind of therian who, similarly to the contherian, constantly experiences this nonhuman side and do not experience mental shifts; however, they can experience changes on a sliding scale, or combinations between human and animal mindsets, but generally in a manner that is not as extreme as with shifters. Also called "vacillant". Cladotherian: A therian whose theriotype is not one specific sub-species. For example, rather than a tiger specifically, they encompass all felines or a "clade". It is not a temporary or placeholder label for those who are uncertain or haven't yet narrowed down their species. A cladotherian does not think such a narrowing of species is possible or applicable for themselves. Theriomythic: A therian whose thereotype is not found on earth, also known as being mythological. otherkin is the term usually used for this, but some still label over therian. #therian #otherkin #alterhuman #therianthropy
