There’s been a lot of talk about species dysphoria and unhealthy self-questioning lately and so I wanted to talk about a lighter way of interacting with one’s otherkinity–especially in the breath of trying to kinfirm one’s kintype.

Species Euphoria.

Species Euphoria is the elated feeling one gets when they see the creature that just clicks with them. That “aha!” moment that a lot of us have previously experienced at any point in our identifying journey, the belonging or warm feeling we get when we see our species or source of origin. It’s that moment we feel comfortable in our knowledge of ourselves, of familiarity with something on a fundamental level.

Questioning our identities is healthy; doubt can be healthy. But it can become obsessive when we want to belong so badly to a label or community, whether because change is scary, or we feel safe in our secure knowing. We can become blind to the fact that there are truths slaping us in the face with evidence that we have no reason to be so critical of ourselves.

This is where Species Euphoria comes in; if you feel comfortable in an identity, but feel like it’s… off, that could be a great indicator you’re on the right track! Is your thing making you happy? It’s okay! You dont need to beat yourself up for not knowing things exactly, right at this moment.

“But what if I dont like my kintype??”

That’s 100000% valid! You cant choose your kintypes. You may not react to Species Euphoria in the same way as others may! In fact, you may want to redefine it to your own specifications, use another term. You can still feel familiar or begrudgingly comfortable with something and hate it with all your being. That’s okay!! The premise of Species Euphoria is still there–it allows us to think and question about a kintype in terms of familiarity rather than obsessive interrogation–and in a dangerous way, self-loathing.

“But how do I know it’s a kintype and not a copinglink??”

Are you feeling happy because you feel familiarity AS the thing, or because of the thing? The same definitions apply regardless of how you question.

I wrote this because of a recent breakthrough in my own questioning I had. I’ve been questioning a four-legged shift I’ve been having for quite a while. During the shift, I’ve had no indication to what the creature is, so it’s been perplexing and something on the back burner because I have no information to grill myself on. I caught myself musing about it nonchalantly one day.

“I’d love to be hellhoundkin. I’ve seen those around.”

That’s when I stopped myself, realized I was projecting my opinion of ideal onto something that had no basis in reality, and reminded myself I had no evidence of it. Sure, being hellhoundkin would be cool, but being otherkin isnt based in ‘coolness factor.’ I have no affinity for hell, or fire, or anything associated with hellhounds. My shifts dont feel hound-ish (as much as I can tell).

Thinking about being a hellhound did not evoke Species Euphoria in me. There’s nothing wrong with that either! It just means I wasnt on the right path in my questioning process. I’ve since let it roll off my back, other than to bring this think piece to you, dear reader. I certainly hope it helps!