i just don’t….
I’m sorry but I don’t agree with kin types. No amount of research or talking to those who identify as kin makes any sense to me. I had someone explain it was like spirit animals. I’m sorry, what you’re describing does not sound like a spirit animal. And I find that horribly offensive. To me, it’s mocking spirit animals. As someone who is both bisexual and trans, I can understand a whole lot of shit. But this. I just….don’t. It sounds like DID. My friend has DID. I had her read a number of people’s tales of their feelings. She said it sounds a lot like what she goes through every day. I have a few friends going into the psych field and have graduated who’ve said the same thing.
I’m just saying.
Unfortunately it was probably described to you by someone who wears our label as a fashion statement.
Otherkinity is the psychological and/or spiritual belief that on a non-physical level that we are nonhuman.
This is generally through beliefs in reincarnation, heritage, multiverse theory, cosmic mix up, psychological miswiring of the brain, or any combination of the above.
We know it isn’t related to gender, or spirit animals, or totems, or anything like that.
The @theangrylionshark has a lot of sources you can read over from psychologists who have studied otherkin that might help you.No, I’ve had it explained a myriad of ways by a number of different people. Male and female. Trans and cis. Young and old. All of it reads like mental illness and deluded thinking. You’re human. You’re actually, physically human. How is your an animal or a cartoon character or a fucking dragon. Dragons don’t exist.
If you see it as something spiritual, ok. But I still think that it’s partly a product mental illness. As a mentally ill person, I cringe reading these things. They make me terribly sad.
Otherkin realize we are physically human. We know we are human, we just do not identify as human on a non-physical level. In order for something to be a delusion, it has to be a belief held in the face of contrary evidence. Since there is nothing to say that species identity is impossible (and studies to show that it is), it cannot be a delusion unless someone believes they can violate the laws of nature in some way. While there are some people in the community (mostly trolls and fad chasers) who portray themselves as believing they are physically non-human, have magical powers ala Hollywood, etc. actual otherkin do not believe such things.
If you’re transgender, the concept of not identifying with your assigned gender parallels otherkinity in that (and only in that) otherkin do not identify with their current species. We experience various things such as altered mental states (Note: Mental states that are perfectly controllable and any action taken therefrom is chosen) and supernumerary limbs that do not correspond with a human experience. Do some people use the concept of species identity to excuse their poor behavior? Sure. Some people, mostly under the age of 18, appropriate the concept for whatever reason. This tends to frustrate the hell out of people who actually experience the identity.
Some people see it as something spiritual. They believe the identity stems from the state of their soul/spirit, past lives, incarnation, etc. Some people see it as stemming from the brain either in a neurological or psychological framework (Note: Something being psychological in origin does not make it a mental illness by default. In order for something to be a mental illness it has to negatively impact one’s ability to function in society.) Are some otherkin also mentally ill? Yes (and I’m referencing the professionally diagnosed here, not the tumblrkin who self diagnose with 15 things because mental illness is “cool uwu”).
In terms of dragons, etc. that “don’t exist”…in a psychological framework, something doesn’t have to exist or have existed physically on our planet in order to hold it as an identity. Such a statement just proves ignorance of psychological concepts and the root cause of identity. In a spiritual framework, people often believe that their kintype exists somewhere; on an alternate plane of existence, another planet, etc. You’re welcome to your opinion, and I realize to an outsider the concept of species identity (especially if you came across it on Tumblr) seems “out there” and even a little “nuts”…but that doesn’t mean your opinion is correct…nor does it give you the right to shit on people because you lack understanding and/or the desire to gain it. If you do want to actually learn about otherkin, here are some sources courtesy of a friend. While they aren’t all 100% accurate, they’re good enough for now.
I think religion is just as bullshit as most things on this planet.
I can’t think that in any realm thinking you’re a plant, animal etc is in anyway psychologically sound. You may not get distress from it now. But the future awaits.
I’ve read all those things. I’ve done months of research and I’ve talked to a number of them. And it makes no sense. No sense whatsoever. I’ve tried but it reads and sounds like mental illness. Every, single facet of it does. Even if it’s just mild.
I don’t believe in alternate planes of existence or realities or any of that. Maybe that’s why it sounds like a load?
Lots of mentally ill people don’t think their issue causes any problems, but it does. It just takes years sometimes for anyone to see it. If your mental states change, that’s a psychological issue that needs tending to. Mental states don’t just change for no reason. You may be able to control it, that’s great. But my friend, who I said was severely DID, she can control it too.
Well otherkinity has nothing to do with religion, so there’s that. Something can be spiritual without being religious. Plus, I’ve already explained to you that not all otherkin believe their identity to be spiritual in nature. I for one am a non-spiritual atheist (with 30 years of life under my belt and a dual degree in biology and environmental studies, but clearly I’m too mentally ill to have such a normal and productive life).
It’s always nice to see yet another armchair psychologist on Tumblr. Truly. I guess all of the various mental health professionals that some otherkin have seen, discussed their beliefs with, and not been institutionalized because of their identity should lose their licenses. I find it pretty funny that someone who’s transgender is just ignoring the parallels between the two. You know, some people still think being transgender is a mental illness (myself not being one of them, but the point stands).
I guess you also don’t believe in physics…which is a shame because science is true whether or not you believe in it, as the wonderful Neil DeGrasse Tyson once said. While most otherkin who cite the multiverse theory butcher it, it’s still a scientific theory which gives it about as much merit as gravity. I bet you don’t make a habit of jumping out of 3rd story windows because you don’t “believe” in that either.
Perhaps I’ll take your ignorance seriously once you attain a psychology degree. Until then…I guess you’re happy with your misinformation. Just do us all a favor and keep it to yourself so you don’t look like a little kid going “I CAN’T HEAR YOU” while plugging your ears with your fingers, eh?
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