This book contains potentially sensitive information that can be triggering to some. Any pages marked with a star are trigger warnings, like depression mentions or information about mean accusations, bullying, etc. None are deeply talked about or given much information, but it’s just a warning. I made this as clean as possible for WP and I will edit it.

DISCLAIMER:

This book is created from knowledge that I know, so any mistakes are mine. I tried to explain most things as best as I could, but I could be wrong.

Therianthropy is not something ‘fun’ or ‘trendy’, it’s an identity we cannot choose, and some even wish to not identify themselves as a Therian.

I made this book solely for anyone who wants to learn about Therianthropy, is questioning if they are one, and especially aimed at teen or young Therians to learn more, since that is where most misinformation comes from, and it’s also the peak age for Therians to awaken.

For those who are wondering, yes, I am a Therian. I don’t really think it’s respectful for a non-Therian to write about Therians like they know everything or speak for others. I realize that I cannot speak for others, I am just saying my experience and knowledge that I know. I understand that this information could be incorrect, and I am sorry if this is true. You can let me know if information is untrue or have anything to add on by adding a post.

Some pages are marked, as I said, so please be aware of what you are reading.

INTRODUCTION: The Awakening *

Awakening is an interesting word. It has a couple of different interpretations. ‘Awakening in the morning’ (although that use of the word sounds a bit weird, maybe even grammatically incorrect) is one. But that's not the awakening I'm talking about.

The awakening I'm talking about is the one related to Therianthropy. What is Therianthropy, you may ask? Well, it's the community of Therians, individuals who identify as animals to a non-physical level.

You may think “WHAT?” or “Is that a mental illness?” or many other things. Some may be unkind. I cannot speak for all Therians, but I do recommend you don't shame us or say bad or demeaning things. It is just an identity, not anything else. You also cannot choose to be a Therian. You are born as a Therian, but you have an "awakening” as one, which is where you find out you're a Therian or find out your Theriotype, the animal you identify as. To a NON-physical level.

This means we do NOT believe we are physically an animal. That is a mental illness called clinical lycanthropy. If you believe you are physically shifting into an animal, please seek help. This is not Therianthropy. Don't confuse the two, please. And Therians are not ----------------------------------------------- (cut out for WP)

Anyway, back to the awakening, the name of this beginning, informational chapter. Awakenings can make you feel a burst of many different emotions, such as excitement, happiness, and discovery. You may feel glad to have figured out this aspect of yourself. But there can also be nervousness. Uncertainty (especially if you think you have more than one Theriotype or about how others will react), anxiety or fear, and sadness. You could be worried about how others react, or see the amount of negativity given to this community.

Also, awakenings are a process, not an immediate realization. So it takes time to figure this out, and don't rush to conclusions or label yourself quite yet!

One thing to remember is that just because there is so much stigma in this community, it outweighs it by a million to still be yourself. You can find true friends who understand and love you for who you are. But if you are not ready to share or are still figuring things out, that is completely fine! You work at your own pace. This is your discovery, not mine.

CHAPTER ONE: Finding Out Theriotypes *

This is probably the longest part of the process, with research following close behind. They both go paw in paw (get it? Hand in han– you know what? Nevermind); to find out your Theriotype, research is necessary.

To research, it can be helpful to know your Theriotype, like to find Therians with Theriotypes like you! But this is not a stroll-in-the-park thing. It takes time, research, self-awareness and open-mindedness to discover a Theriotype, just like other aspects of your identity, like sexuality and gender.

Finding your Theriotype can also include distress, anxiety, worry, apprehension, and uncertainty. You can also be in denial or try to think you're not a Therian when you very well could be. It can be hard to know where to start. Questioning yourself about being a Therian is often the most helpful first step.

Some things you should research are: What is Therianthropy? How to tell if I’m a Therian? Self-care? What is a Therian awakening? And just learn about them in general. Avoid taking quizzes, as those could be misleading and only show a few results. Just being curious about Therianthropy is okay, too! Also, there’s no need to rush, especially if you want to be accurate and be true to yourself.

Common Signs You May Be a Therian:

1. You get animal-like urges

2. You experience shifts of any kind (talked about in the next chapter)

3. You feel species dysphoria (explained in Chapter Three)

4. You feel a spiritual and/or psychological connection to a certain biome

If you have any of these signs, you should probably consider doing research. But just having one of these (or even more) does not always mean you're a Therian. Do not call yourself a Therian unless you've done all the research you can and know lots of information. This lowers the risk of you being called a fake Therian (explained in Chapter Six) or spreading misinformation. Now, if you think you're a Therian, figure out what Theriotypes you have. This part can be really hard, but I'll try to help a little bit.

Tips to Find Theriotypes:

1. WHAT urges or shifts you get

• Like what you do when you shift or what urges you have. (Ex. urges to bark may indicate a canine Theriotype, or urges to scratch or meow may indicate a feline Theriotype).

• This is talked about more in the next Chapter.

2. WHAT Places you like to be or confide in (mostly for non-housepet Therians)

• Places you feel like you want to live. It’s different than just liking the beach or vacation. It’s more of a familiarity or spiritual connection with a certain location or habitat. Forests, beaches or deserts are some examples of these places.

• But these feelings do not always mean you are a Therian. This can just mean you like these certain places.

3. Past lives

• This one is kinda self-explanatory. If you get flashbacks, dreams or other visions of you (in first-person) as an animal in a certain place. This can be in forests, or in another house, or even bio-shifts.

• Not all Therians have a past life. This is just a common sign of Therianthropy. Don't give up researching if you don't remember a past life. And this can take a LONG time to discover or have visions. Sometimes it's a first sign of Therianthropy. But Therianthropy is different for everyone.

CHAPTER TWO: Shifts and Urges

What are shifts? Well, they’re when a Therian experiences feelings of shifting into an animal mentally or spiritually. This cannot be physically.

I do not shift very often, but when I do, it can be really fun. You can feel more close to your Theriotype. For some it's like sitting in the back seat while your Theriotype takes the wheel.

Shifts can also be disruptive, annoying or stressful, especially when you get urges to in school or public.

But shifts do not happen to everyone. Some Therians rarely experience them or don't ever.

Shifts also are usually controllable. Sometimes you may lose control, but usually not to a dangerous extent, and it's temporary. You shouldn't lose control or start biting people, think you're physically shifting or blackout in a dangerous way. If this is happening, see a doctor. This is NOT Therianthropy and could be a sign of something else, like clinical lycanthropy, dissociative identity disorder or some other serious condition.

Some (not all) types of shifts are:

1. Mental shift

• Where you feel like you're mentally an animal or feel more connected psychologically to your Theriotype.

2. Bio-Shift

• You can feel like you're in a different location or biome, like a forest.

3. Sensory Shift

• This can feel like your senses get stronger or you can sense more than you can normally. Though this is not physically possible, it's most likely you're focused on a certain sense or meditating and feel more connected to your senses.

4. Dream Shift

• Dream shifts are shifts that happen while you're asleep. It can be a lucid dream or just a normal dream where you are as your Theriotype. This is only in first-person.

5. Cameo Shift

• This is where you have a shift of an animal that is not your Theriotype.

• This can be confusing, but also fun. Some Therians get confused when they get a cameo because they do not identify with that animal and may wonder if that is another Theriotype they have.

6. Phantom Shift

• Where you feel like you have a phantom limb like a tail, ears, snout, paws or even wings for avian Therians.

7. Physical Shift

• Nope. Not possible. Get help if you think you are experiencing this.

CHAPTER THREE: Species Dysphoria (Sucks!) *

This one is one of the worst things about Therianthropy. Some people may think that Therianthropy is fun, and cool.. yeah, it is… until you get hit with the harsh reality, pain, depression, hate and other stuff Therians face.

Just the sadness alone that you cannot go back to being an animal can make some Therians want to commit suicide or fall into a depression.

Species dysphoria can feel like your body is not what you need it to be. Like, where's my tail, or, why can't I just go back to being an animal? You could feel like your body is the wrong one, or you shouldn’t look human.

This can be very distressing, especially since you have to radically accept you cannot physically become an animal.

Some tips to improve mental health when feeling bad about this:

1. Reading

• Reading can be a helpful distraction when you feel sad. Listening to audiobooks can work, too.

2. Writing

• Writing stories can be an effective coping skill for some. For me, I write stories about my interests, characters I created, or many other subjects. I like writing them, published or not.

3. Drawing

• Draw your Theriotype! Or, if you don’t want to think about it, draw something else, like something you’re interested in, like a cartoon character, type of car, etc.

4. Quadrobics

• Quadriobics can help for some, which is the sport of running, jumping, or doing other forms of moving on all fours (hands and feet).

• You do not need to do quadrobics as a Therian, though this is a common misconception. Quadrobics are a sport, not an identity. It's optional.

• Quads can increase dysphoria for some, so don’t do what doesn’t help or that makes it worse.

• Quads are a good exercise to strengthen your body and help your endurance.

• This is talked about more in Chapter Seven and Five.

5. Wear Gear

• Gear can help some Therians feel more at ease because it can give a feeling of an actual tail or ears, other than phantom shifts.

• Some say it can help decrease the amount of phantom shifts.

• This is talked about more in Chapter Five and Seven.

CHAPTER FOUR: Other Terms (furry, otherkin, etc.)

There are other terms and names for the umbrella term alterhuman. Alterhuman is the collective name of all the individuals who identify as a non-human being. As you know, a Therian is an individual who identifies as a non-human animal This can be a Therian, Otherkin, Fictionkin, Other-Hearted, Trauma-Kin, and many other terms. In this chapter, we’ll be looking into some of those terms and what they mean.

NOTE: Yes, there is more types than just these, but I’m just writing about some of them. And sorry we don’t talk much about them in this book, but this book is mainly for Therians or people who are questioning about it. Also, this is not meant to describe all of the individuals with these identities, and it’s not meant to be offensive. With that said, let’s continue.

First off, what is an Otherkin? Well, an Otherkin is someone who identifies as a non-human creature, but not ‘animal’ necessarily. Otherkin can identify as dragons, elves, angels and demons, etc. It’s different than a fictionkin, which we’ll get into later. Being an Otherkin is just as valid as Therianthropy, and there are similarities and key differences between them.

Otherkin:

1. An individual who identifies as a mystical being in a non-physical way.

2. This can be (not limited to):

• Dragons

• Elves, goblins, dwarves, etc.

• Satyrs

• Fairies

• Angels, demons, devils, etc.

• Kitsunes

• Unicorns

Fictionkin:

1. Fictionkin are individuals who identify as fictional characters or species.

2. Some confuse this with Otherkinity, but these are not the same.

3. Pokémon is an example of a Fictionkin type.

CHAPTER FIVE: Gear and accessories (what they are and tips)

CHAPTER SIX: Fake Therians

CHAPTER SEVEN: How You Can Express Yourself (quads, public gear, risks, etc.)

CHAPTER EIGHT: Hate, Bullying and Stigma (and how to deal with it)

CHAPTER NINE: TikTok and Social Media

CHAPTER TEN: Biases Within the Community

CHAPTER ELEVEN: Foods to Enjoy

CHAPTER TWELVE: Crafts to Do

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Tips to Meet Other Therians

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Telling Family and Friends That You're a Therian

CHAPTER FIFTEEN (Last Chapter): Common Questions

RESOURCES:

ENDING NOTES:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S):