Copingkin is an involuntary identity falling under the otherkin umbrella within the alterhuman community.
Individuals who identify as copingkin develop a nonhuman identity due to various factors. This identity serves as a coping mechanism, helping the individual manage and navigate challenges such as stress, trauma, mental illness, or other personal difficulties.
Key points[]
- Personal Context:
- This identity is often influenced by personal context and individual experiences. It reflects a nuanced understanding of the role that nonhuman entities can play in supporting mental well-being and resilience.
- Diverse Experiences:
- Copingkin experiences can vary widely among individuals. They all have different reasons as to why this identity appeared in their life, but their experiences aren't any less valid, no matter how it happened.
- Involuntary Identity:
- Copingkin is an involuntary identity within the alterhuman community.
- Individuals did NOT choose to adopt a nonhuman entity as part of their identity to cope with personal challenges.
- Coping Mechanism:
- Copingkin serves as a coping mechanism to help individuals manage stress, trauma, mental illness, or other personal difficulties.
- This identity may provide a sense of comfort, support, or distraction from underlying issues, or be a trauma-response.
- Differences with Copinglink:
- It is important to recognise the difference with c'linkers. Being copinglink is a voluntary experience, while being copingkin is an involuntary experience.
Example[]
After a traumatic event as a child, where the individual may have felt vulnerable, a copingkin identity can be developped involuntarily. Due to the traumatic event, their way of protecting themselves may have lead them to develop an identity as a strong non-human creature, such as a tiger or a dragon, as a way to cope with the event where they had felt vulnerable instead. Although, they did not choose to start experiencing this identity.