Awakening can be initially triggered by a question as simple as "Are you _______?" While this sounds like a very simple and straightforward question, it can trigger what Silussa has termed "Meme Shock".

A meme is a societal ideal which is transmitted, either verbally or by action", throughout a culture by constant repetition. Consider it a societal virus. It has its pluses in that it establishes a great deal of what is considered "normal".

However, when the societal meme of "human/normal" is confronted by the idea of not being normal, it can induce severe mental and emotional stress.

::''In my own case, although I had been about otherkin dragons (and, to a much lesser extent, otherkin elves) for some years, when confronted with the question, I found myself 'locked up'. Quite literally, my mind just twisted in on itself, trying to cope with the battle between what was taught and accepted on one hand (the meme), and what felt right (accepting myself as otherkin).

::I can't say how long it went on before the deadlock finally broke, although I do recall the folks at the other end of the IRC connection were starting to become concerned at my long silence.'' - Silussa