Otherkin Community; We need to talk.
I love this community, from those who identify via spiritually to psychologically & everything in-between and outside of that- literally everyone. BUT, we need to address the elephant in the room that is TikTok therians and otherkin doing genuine harm to the community.
Our population is growing due to their work, and although it makes me happy to see so many others discovering themselves, it also makes me sad because we are seeing the meanings of words changing and yes that's how language works, but these changes are not going to be healthy long term.
I originally wasn't going to make this post until something happened the other day that made me realize how big of an issue this is. I come from a personal experience that's actively going on irl for me
Now I won't get into details out of respect for everyone's privacy, but it's important I address this. One of my siblings has discovered the otherkin label through TikTok and is now identifying as wolfkin... BUT they are now having daily meltdowns because they cannot eat from a bowl on the floor during family dinners. They are adamant at doing strictly quads because "that's what otherkin is" and they have become so mentally distressed because they feel the need to prove themselves due to what is being advertised on TikTok. They believe that they need to outwardly appear as a wolf 24/7.
I personally believe that I am a faerie shapeshifter, I believe I am one 24/7, but I'm also aware of time and place. I do not bark at people in public (yes my sibling is now doing this). It is causing them genuine mental health issues, as they are genuinely screaming and crying every day, and it doesn't help that our family is not very understanding of it, especially since my sibling is an adult still living at home. They are autistic, and take things VERY literally, they are also very lonely due to their disability and have always been desperate to find a sense of community. I've attempted to explain to them that they don't need to prove anything to anyone, and that being otherkin can mean more than quads, but they're adamant that this is right for them despite the daily breakdowns and overwhelming dysphoria, (that they admit that they didn't have before). They're in therapy, but I'm not sure how that's going since I do not live with them, everything that I know is from what I've seen during visits and what my family has told me, as they're at a loss as they were in the middle of trying to get my sibling into college. Now that they're a wolf, they have no interest in education 🙃
I'll be honest, I am worried about their safety, my whole family is. We live in the south, and people are not kind to the mentally ill being in public. (if anyone has any advice I'm genuinely willing to hear it btw)
And although I know this is an individual problem with a lot of factors outside of the otherkin community, I know my sibling is not the only person experiencing this. There have been a lot of new members of the community expressing extreme dysphoria and pressure to be like the TT creators. AND I'm seeing a lot of confusion on what being nonhuman/alterhuman is now (especially now that a lot of these TT creators are backtracking in order to save face), and I think we're in a really awkward spot as a community.
Do NOT send hate to these creators, and do not think I am advocating for their hate, trying to gatekeep, or saying that they're not part of the community- they are. They're valid, and they're real, there's just some harm coming from the lack of transparency, and I think we as a community need to stop ignoring it. We need to prioritize education.
Now to those who are new; You do not have to prove your identity to anyone. You don't need gear, you don't need to act or talk a certain way- you don't even need to let anyone know what you identify as. Live your truth, it's yours, and it's sacred. Do not let anyone dictate what is the right way to be YOU. Please do not get wrapped up in the nightmare that is overconsumerism and the blind following of trends and expectations. Do what's best for you, and if being otherkin is genuinely causing you distress, please be willing to look into why that is. Your identity should NEVER be making you mentally unwell. Now please take care of yourself, drink some water, eat a snack if you need, and make sure you get plenty of rest.
