If you're reading this and you've never heard the term "alterhuman" before, you're probably pretty curious of what I mean when I say things like "vivterms" and "transpecies". Perhaps you've seen bits of alterhumanity once or twice but never thought much of it until now. Maybe you're here because you too are alterhuman and want to hear from a kindred spirit (if so, I'm flattered!). Its even possible that you've encountered alterhumanity being talked about in a negative fashion, but I think its important for everyone to hear from both sides of a story before they commit to a stance. I'm going to go over the basics of what alterhumanity is and what some words commonly used in the alterhuman sphere mean, as well as hopefully clear up some misconceptions about the phenomenon. Please approach this topic with an open mind! - What is alterhuman? "A category of personal identity which encompasses identification that is alternative to the common societal idea of humanity." source Ok, so. The word "alterhuman" is an umbrella term used to describe a wide variety of experiences but the basic idea is alterhumanity is when you identify, in some way, as something other than human. This can look like someone considering themselves part-human part-nonhuman, a nonhuman brain or soul in a human body, having a strong emotional or spiritual connection to something nonhuman, even feeling as if your body isn't human as well. These are just some ways alterhumanity can manifest. Glossary - Otherkin - Therian - Otherhearted - Otherlink - Voidpunk - Transpecies - Shifts - Species dysphoria/euphoria - Gear Now that we know some of the basic language, lets put it into use so we can get a feel for what being alterhuman looks like. Here's an easy one: what does my alterhumanity look like? My name is Sal and I am a wolf holothere, meaning I see myself as entirely 100% in all ways a wolf, however I usually just say "therian" or "transpecies". I personally attribute my alterhumanity as being a psychological effect of neurodivergence, being born with a physical deformity, a tumultuous childhood, and growing up around a whole lot of animals. Little me was treated like I wasn't human, thats how I turned out. I find myself visualising my wolf-body as being large with black fur and yellow-orange eyes. I experience involuntary mental, phantom and bi-location shifts from time to time. My hearthome is the forest and I miss it every moment I'm not inside one. I've noticed I have little traits and behaviours that are kind of canine coded or at least feel very canine when I'm doing them? It may sound silly but its true. Expressing myself as an animal is the only way for me to be comfortable in my own skin, which may seem ironic since I do feel pretty alienated. To put it into perspective, before I accepted that I was a wolf, I didn't have anything to identify myself as at all, so I was totally dissociated from my sense of self for a long long time. Now that I know what I am, its easier to see the things that will make me happy and feel like "me". Species dysphoria is a bitch but I'm bitchier and I'm invested in finding creative ways to express my nonhumanity. This is why I call myself "transpecies", because I want to change my body and lifestyle to better suit my species. Or to at least seperate myself a little from the species I'm often mistaken for.