Copinglink

undefined: Copinglink refers to individuals who identify as a non-human, fictional, or factual being to cope, called a link. This identity could be chosen, or it could be involuntary; the important thing is that it is a coping mechanism, not a spiritual or ingrained psychological belief, like otherkin, fictionkin, and factkin.

Individuals may be copinglinks for many different reasons, including:
 * Coping with identity issues caused by a mental illness, such as borderline personality disorder,
 * Their neurodivergence making one feel as if they aren't human in the same way as those around them, such as autistic and ADHD individuals,
 * Reclaiming the lack of humanity pushed onto them by others because of their "lack of love" or similar sentiments, such as aromantics (especially loveless aromantics) and individuals with low/no empathy,
 * Coping with trauma,
 * Or any number of other reasons, as long as it is to cope.

Copinglinking is not a "lesser" or "inferior" version of 'kin, but a similar phenomenon that often shares spaces with 'kin due to having comparable needs and experiences. It could be compared to the differences between being transgender and being gender non-conforming; the two share similar experiences, and have historically often shared spaces and worked alongside each other, but are separate identities and sometimes need separate spaces alongside their shared ones.

Related Terms
Alterhuman is an umbrella term for anyone who identifies as non-human or as experiencing an alternative form of humanity. Copinglink falls under this category.

Caraa is an alternative term for copinglink, made for systems who do not want to associate with the larger 'kin community.

Trauma nonhuman is a term for those who became alterhuman as a result of trauma, and may be seen as an involuntary subtype of copinglink.

Otherlink refers to individuals who identify as a non-human, fictional, or factual being not because of a spiritual or ingrained psychological belief, or as a coping mechanism, but for any other reason; often for fun and/or to express themselves, though not always.

Otherhearted and synpath are terms that refer to having a deep connection/bond with something, such as strongly relating to it, acting like it, or understanding it, but not quite being it; identifying with instead of as something. The two terms are technically synonymous, though in practice, otherhearted is often used to refer to non-human and/or animal connections, while synpath is more commonly used for fictional characters.