Things you should consider

[Weirdelicious]

Just a reminder

Before you come to the conclusion that you are a therian or an other kin, here are some things you should consider first:

Mental health:   Do you have any mental problems? That is the first question you should ask yourself, because if you do have them, maybe you should put aside therianthropy for a moment. You may just suffer from schizophrenia, hallucinations, personality or emotional disorders or behavioural problems. How to know if you are sane or not? Get evaluated by professionals. That is of course, if you have doubts about your mental health. If you do not suffer from anything, well, let's move on to the next step!

Relationship with animals:  Just loving and wanting to protect animals does not make you a therian or other kin. It makes you a good human. In some cases though, it may be an indication. What I'm saying is that it's more than love and/or admiration for a precise animal or creature; it's a deep feeling of understanding. You feel the animal or the creature in you, you see through its eyes.

Appetite: Craving meat or just any other foods is irrelevant. BUT your therian or other kin side MAY influence your choice of meals, but not always. Like me for example, my therian side is the wolf. It does not mean that I just love and eat meat only; I do like pasta, exotic fruits, deserts and dairy although, if I do not eat red meat everyday I get weak. But it has nothing to do with my therian side, my blood just can't keep its iron and this is due to a poor diet. As for sexual appetite, therian or not it all depends on your life style and your needs. Having a very strong sexual appetite does not mean that you are a therian.

Physical appearance: That's a bit blurry, because you have to consider heredity, ethnicity and environment. But it is known that some therians physically shift, that's pretty rare but not impossible. I've been told that mental shifts or dream shifts may have visible effects on the body. The most common physical changes are in the pilosity and the color of the eyes. In some very rare cases, the teeth and nails change. These changes may be temporary or permanent. I guess it depends on the frequency of the shifts or the lengths of them. Honestly I don't know. 

Special skills or powers: Therians and other kins tend to have special physical skills, some even have psychic abilities. Then again, not all of them do! But it seems that many do. But there are a lot of arguments for these matters.

Full moon: Not a factor. You don't shift only at the full moon, whatever your therian side.

Blood lust: If you have that, you may be a vampire.  Wanting to fight and/or kill, you may have alot of anger inside and you need to see a professional before you harm yourself and others.

That's it for now, my goal is to help, not to discredit. It's just that so many people claim to be therians or other kins just because it is cool or because they hate their existence so they need thrills. But how can we have credibility if so many are just kidding around, making real therians and other kins look bad?  How can the scientific community take us seriously if some jerks go around saying: "I'm a werewolf, beware! At the full moon you will all be doomed! Grrrrrrrrrr!!!".      

[Moloch]

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[Weirdelicious]

Well it takes more than just being drawn to a certain creature. I can't tell you what you are and no one else can either because it's a very personnal thing. There are no specific indications to determin what is your therian or otherkin side. It depends on so many factors plus there are no serious scientific researches that can give tips. You yourself should find out. It can take time and it can be hard sometimes but it's worth it. What I can advise you to do is to find a person that claims to have a spider or demon side and ask them questions. That's what I did. You suspect to have a demon and/or a spider side well, do some research! Let's take the spider example, your could learn about behaviour, habitat and ask yourselves question. Have I been a spider in dreams? Where and how do I feel safe? You know, things like that. Only you have the answers. I'm no expert, I just provide infos and what I know.

That's why I encourage otherkins and therians to participate, so every weres can add what they know and it might help others!

That's all I can give you, I hope it helps a bit.

[Moloch]

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[Weirdelicious]

No problem! 

[Ghostlyguy90]

What kind of physical skills are you talking about.

[Weirdelicious]

Well some people noticed that their senses were stronger, an increase of physical strength, you know things like that.

[Ghostlyguy90]

Does everyone have a therian like side to them or are there only certain people who can have them?

[Weirdelicious]

I'm in doubt. Most therians say that not all humans have a therian side. But me, I'm hesitating. But I'm sure that there are thousands of people who have a therian side and that they don't know about it. Like me, I've learned it a few months ago! The problem is that not all people are curious about the more "paranormal" aspects of life so how can you learn about therianthropy if you never go near places like this forum or other "underground" communities or culture? But to get back to your question, I'm not saying that all humans have a therian side but a big portion of them do and just don't know about it and might never know about it. Kind of sad...

[Ghostlyguy90]

So your saying that it is possible for someone like me to have a therian side? Personally, I am not sure if I wiuld. I guess I am more comfortable around animals than people, and I have always had an obsession with hawks and falcons. I kinda long to be like them.

[Weirdelicious]

It is possible, you just have to find out for yourself! Of course, many therians will say that we are the "chosen ones" and that we are few, we come from there or there, we are here because of this or that or whatever but sometimes it's just to boost their ego. I am not saying that we are nothing special, just that none can claim anything. Nothing is sure, it's all theories and opinions...

[Levinthross]

I think that some people although not therians n the true since can reflect more bestial like quaalities of the human race

[Petling]

I don't know if I am a therian. I believe I might be "more" than normal, but I can't figure out what exactly that means. For a long time I thought I was just crazy like my oldest sis, (schizophrenia) but my Mom assured me imma not. I also think I might be depressed, or bipolar, but again, everybody just says imma lazy, not crazy. So I am sorta on this quest to find out about myself. (please don't laugh) I looked, & I don't fit any specific descriptions for mental unhealth, so I figured I might find answers here. I would appreciate any help you can give me. <=)

[TheTerror]

well what about the shifting powers......you have to take in consideration that if other people can see you "shifting"

[SherlawkDragon]

I came across this comic again earlier, and I thought it might be a good add, though it probably should be moved to the top, because it's somewhat important.
This is one of Orion's Theri-There's:

Obviously, the advice here is straightforward to admit your faults and what you don't know, and try not to fill the gaps in your self in with stuff that other people say or, as pictured, fiction and silliness.