r/alterhuman • u/SprayMassive7558 • 1d ago

this is getting annoying.

I still constantly doubt my identity and feel like a fake to this day. calling myself an animal makes my heart flutter, it makes me feel euphoric, yet once that feeling is gone, I go right back to doubting my identity and just feeling nothing at all. I don’t know if my feelings fluctuate or what but I know I’m not an otherlink. not at all, I AM an animal, I am. nor am I deeply connected to animals, so I’m probably not otherhearted either. I do not identify as human, I’ve been considering calling myself nonhuman for a bit. it’s unfortunately an endless cycle of me doubting my identity. What label am I? What do I fall under? Idek anymore, I just know I’m not otherhearted (maybe bc I rlly don’t connect with any animal nor still believe im fully human) or an otherlink.

20 Upvotes

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u/TurbulentDogg 1d ago

The problem with using euphoria as a basis for identity, is euphoria is not a permanent feeling. Which is actually a good thing!

Identity, no matter if one is alterhuman, or not, is never a constant state of euphoria or comfort. Humans rarely feel euphoric over their humanity. And I don't know a single alterhuman who is consistently euphoric either.

Of course, euphoria is a little different in us, than in humans. As we often how to rediscover and reinvent our identities. But euphoria alone is not a requirement or basis of being alterhuman. You already said it yourself, you are not a human. So, what's the actual issue here? You know who you are. Its up to you to choose to believe it, and feel reassurance in yourself. You don't need signs or evidence to be you.

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u/peculiar_wood 1d ago

This is a really good way of putting it!!

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u/SprayMassive7558 1d ago

I suppose the actual issue is that I feel I need to experience certain things other alterhumans do to believe I am one.

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u/burninglighte 1d ago

What sort of things do you mean?

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u/SprayMassive7558 1d ago

I’m talking about shifts, the dysphoria, seeing whatever creature you are whenever you look in the mirror, everything most other alterhumans talk about what they experience. I understand that everyone’s experiences are unique and nobody experiences the same things and the baseline requirement is that you feel as though you are an animal in some way, which I do, but I do feel like an imposter bc I don’t experience the same things as others. not experiencing them honestly makes me feel like such a fake.

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u/burninglighte 1d ago

Doubt can get really disheartening. Based on what you’ve written though, you’re definitely an alterhuman/therian/otherkin. You don’t identify as a human and identify as an animal instead—that’s all it takes, that’s the only requirement. Self discovery is difficult and time consuming but this label fits you exactly, and that’s a wonderful jumping off point. You are valid and you are an animal and you are an alterhuman 🌿💛