Lottsa pups joining recently, might as well boop the thread.

I do see my theriotypes as part of my being. Since I'm on the mental side as well I see no point in naming them.

But if others want to do that or experience their therianthropy/otherkinity differently that should be okay.

You do what you want to do. If you wanna name your theriotype, go ahead, if you don't that's fine too. People shouldn't be frowned upon for it. I don't want to name my theriotypes but if that's the way that other people feel comfortable who are we to challenge them?

(2020-01-30 18:52)Shiverhoof Wrote:  let them live being misinformed and enjoy the life they have.

this just seems like a mean thing to say because for a lot of people who had names in their past life use it as a way to keep all of their lives in order for organization, not because they're misinformed. -_-

I think the your description was simple and to the point.

Self analyse to work out what makes you different, behaviours nd feelings that aren't human. Research different animals or myths to narrow it down.
I think it'd also important to keep re analysing, you grow and develop. What you though you were first may not be how you end up.

Tough question.

Years of struggle = the first thing that comes to mind.
1 Observation. Looking at oneself from the outside in. Ask yourself the question: if you were allowed to one day meet yourself in the flesh, what would your first impression be?
2 Analysis. What did I just experience? Does it match with either human behavior rather than an animal's? What animal would that be? I always thought of myself as someone who had an efficient memory. It definitely comes in handy when you analyze and look for patterns in your behavior.
While it is best to keep an open mind, it's also a question of being honest and real to yourself. Don't expect everything to be an animal experience, because that's just wishful thinking. Ask yourself whether humans can experience it, too.
3 Put it to the test. Compare. Meet other therians with a similar theriotype. People who are experienced, and that's not just the pun at play here, are often the best role-models.

And those points aside, I must say that even that won't suffice in your journey. There are no guidelines. Identity is a vague construct of the mind. Looking from afar, even identity can be used as a way to shove people into boxes. Think broadly. Remain honest to yourself and don't think one experience that is animal-like will define you. After all, human beings are mammals, too, and therefore, exhibit traits that can be found in other animals as well.

Looking on the internet, asking around, being curious overrall.

Then again, curiosity killed the cat, and I am a cat of sorts.

Oops.

For me reaserch is either reading books or articles about Black Panthers or cats.I also go to the local zoo and reconnect with the feline species that I identify with watching them interact with other or seeing them play around is really fun.

(2021-08-19 3:42)GreatLakesWolf Wrote:  

Tdae Wrote:awhile back I posted a topic I called "somatic stuff." I was talking about something that is conceptually similar to p-shifting, except real and medically documented. Apparently it's something therians rarely experience and there wasn't much interest in the topic though.

Do you mind elaborating on this? I don't see how something real can be similar to p-shifting, just because it seems so impossible.

I hope I don't get into trouble for misleading language or derailing the topic here, so to be clear I'm not talking about fantasy shape shifting but physiological changes in DID patients. There have been a handful of therians who have mentioned unusual physiologic stuff related to therianthropy too. But there wasn't much interest in the topic anyway. I put it in the adult section because I'm not sure if it's appropriate for younger people. Here is the topic I posted.

Excerpt:

Quote:Physiological differences among alternate identities. Case reports and studies using small groups of DID patients and controls who simulate different “alternate identities” have found significant physiologic differences in DID patients compared to controls that manifest in a variety of behavioral ways. These include differences in visual acuity, medication responses, allergies, plasma glucose levels in diabetic patients, heart rate, blood pressure readings, galvanic skin response, muscle tension, laterality, immune function, electroencephalography and evoked potential patterns, functional magnetic resonance imaging activation, and brain activation and regional blood flow using single photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography among others (Loewenstein & Putnam, 2004; Putnam, 1984, 1991b; Reinders et al., 2006; ¸Sar, Ünal, Kiziltan, Kundakci, & Öztürk, 2001; Vermetten, Schmal, Lindner, Loewenstein, & Bremner, 2006). Overall, DID patients as a group show greater physiological variability between their identities compared to simulated identities in controls, rather than the kinds of reproducible differences found between different individuals.

Quote:In 2015, doctors in Germany reported the extraordinary case of a woman who suffered from what has traditionally been called “multiple personality disorder” and today is known as “dissociative identity disorder” (DID). The woman exhibited a variety of dissociated personalities (“alters”), some of which claimed to be blind. Using EEGs, the doctors were able to ascertain that the brain activity normally associated with sight wasn’t present while a blind alter was in control of the woman’s body, even though her eyes were open. Remarkably, when a sighted alter assumed control, the usual brain activity returned.

The sources were from the ISSTD website and Scientific American magazine if I remember right.

[/quote]
awhile back I posted a topic I called "somatic stuff." I was talking about something that is conceptually similar to p-shifting, except real and medically documented. Apparently it's something therians rarely experience and there wasn't much interest in the topic though.
[/quote]

Do you mind elaborating on this? I don't see how something real can be similar to p-shifting, just because it seems so impossible.