You’re not being rude in my opinion, anon. Being kin doesn’t necessarily mean having species dysphoria. I personally do not have a strong disconnect with my human body, but other people in the community do. I do have some disconnect but I wouldn’t consider it strong enough to label it as species dysphoria. Some otherkin have mentioned how their limbs feel completely wrong, they can’t sit or lay right, and they feel completely out of sorts. My experiences are not quite this strong so I don’t claim the label species dysphoria. Even though I do wish to sit like an animal more than I do a human and stuff like that, it doesn’t bother me to the extreme that it seems to bother some.
Would I in some ways rather I didn’t identify as an animal? Yes because sometimes the urges I feel are really confusing and frustrating. Like earlier when I saw a chicken walking down the road past me. My badgery brain was incredibly excited and wanted to catch the chicken. Not a good thing. Also I have urges to run from dogs because I am a rabbit. I like to squeak when happy because I am a bat. It honestly is confusing because I have to remind myself that these behaviors are not normal and so people wouldn’t necessarily understand what I mean by squeaking. If anything, they would probably interpret it as surprise rather than happiness. Things like that. Oh, and astral limbs. I have a nail biting habit thanks to my astral claws. As a child I always felt like my nails were too long so I would gnaw them off. And then the times I feel my fur bristle. And my astral snout snarling makes it really difficult to resist actually snarling at people sometimes.
At the same time, I do acknowledge some positives about being a therian. I do use aspects of it as a coping mechanism. I am a badger. Badgers are tough and fierce critters. Heck yeah, I am too. I am a badger and I will tear you up with my claws and teeth. I feel that my therianthropy gives me unique perspectives on things because I have a more animalian way of thinking. So while being a therian can be confusing at times, I have come to terms with it for the most part.
Also, please people direct your questions to the blog kin-assistance. It’s still us. We just want to keep this blog a bit neater, okay?
-Mod Badger