really think time stop say "alterhumans not physical identify", that identify in body something which exclude from definition.

"hold on, what? but your body is human!"

remember what say about realities: each person experience world in different way.
for some, this mean nonhuman in body too. there can be several reasons:

• embrace delusions as identity - not good option for most, but this do happen
• reject human as label in same way may reject sex/gender labels
• reject human as label due to history and trauma
• interactions between mien/spirit body and seeming/physical body
• any combination, or other reasons not see here

in all these situation, what should you do?

let that person be.

not win anything from say that identify in body make bad just because p-shift - which not same thing - use as gateway to hurt. also not win anything from say that identify in body bad because lead to "neglect" self.
for many who nonhuman in body, this is how embrace and care for self. we do not need people say that "really human," that tests would "prove truth."
regardless how much true that might appear 100% human in tests, that humans will only see as fellow human, that do not erase our realities as experience.

for some, physical nonhumanity come with needs in own right. not your business if this delusion, hallucination, choice, or spiritual.
even for us who disabled and need outside help to care for self, do not need input from random stranger. we almost for sure know own needs best.

"but physical shifters! and cults!"

note: shadow is not physical shapeshifter, or plan ever promote materials and groups that claim able teach. up front, these groups cults that prey on those with dysphoria - people who want become and have safe place where no one judge.
here want look at less common angle: people who blog about physical shapeshift without make claims for or want pull anyone else in.

to write experiences from p-shift POV, to write about how life not same or normal now that figure out how, and have little place with friends that not judge? for some people, that help.
this give some escape - especially if happen that already struggle with "normal life." if not able figure out why, or even just want feel more in control, of course want find any other reason, something that can take pride and joy in.
"have power shapeshift, but need keep this secret from normal people - unsafe get close with them" feel better than "can not make friends, no one want me around, no one can explain and feel so alone."
and if have dysphoria, if feel that not fit in... not bad thing want let all out by write. write can help understand and reflect on feeling, to explain, to comfort. also, just fun when think and daydream and write.

do think every single p-shift group is cult? with some hesitate, want say no actually. can very easy evolve this way, if not how start - many if not majority do. but. some really could be just friend group that all on same page, with nothing horrible involve. lonely people who not understand why world so cruel.
yet even in casual groups like that, can be very hard leave, experience broader community. why? 

because honestly… people can be so hostile.
some people vocal about how physical shapeshift impossible, without regard for how this can push people deeper into spaces that not judge, that feel safe. in that position, just say impossible will not get that person to safety. that only prove that other people judge, other people cruel, stay with us, we understand.
other people think that should be community duty to "not be cringe" or "not fuel misconception," so anyone who go too far is acceptable hurt.

as kid, would play games all alone and see self as secret nonhuman. faery, ghost, vampire, mermaid. from those only one really identity now. but back then, these all have role in explain why people hate or fear, why no one want around, why struggle so much. always vaguely know disabled, but hard accept when no one think can handle truth, those words. so instead invent new reasons.
so, have pains not because body physically grow wrong, but because body prepare for become mermaid. pale skin not because sick and weak , but because vampire that need feed. people ignore not because want hurt, but because can not see ghosts.
and OK, that all happen when kid and young teen. not "same" as older teen or adult who say these things. but argue age not really important.
we all have different brain, and some people hold on "childish things" for much more time. some people might never be able let go, if have brain that end up physically or emotionally stunt. 

not say that everyone need personally welcome them in if would hurt mental health, because understand that real risk. but do think should change general community outlook, not treat as always this horrible evil.
whether in cult, in delusion episode, or just someone try cope through fantasy with world that betray, by and large these people deserve sympathy and care.
for someone call self physically nonhuman, or even say physically shapeshift, should not be something that immediately get hate and attack for.

assess first: do you see any cult signs? or just see someone talk about things that not experience and understand?
if want raise awareness about cults and manipulation tactics, do that. but not get there from exclude and sweep people under. if anything, that make people more vulnerable to those tactics, make those dangerous places feel like only safe ones.

red flags:

• claim that able teach how shapeshift
• ask for money or favours in return; say need prove self worthy
• try isolate from people who say this suspicious
• altered states as "key" - force through hypnosis, drugs, or overexert and exhaust

for more, look into BITE model.

not red flags:

• talk about personal nonhuman body experiences
• refer to self as physically nonhuman
• talk about physical shapeshift experiences, without intend or try rope anyone in

in short: what make these cults dangerous not gateway tool, but how act and control.

so you suspect p-shift...

so you hear about all this, and feel like have things in body that can not explain. maybe you meet someone who tell you this mean physical shift!
well... thing is, many possible physical shift symptoms and signs can also very much be medical condition, or outright emergency.

sore muscles come from strain body - did you know that mild hypothermia can cause this strain across whole body? just about every muscle that can shiver will, even if very subtle. when warm back up... you will ache. for days, even.
for smaller area strains, could also mean you did something - like fall, exercise too hard, or lay down too long in strange way or place. especially with spinal deformity like scoliosis, even one small shift in position during sleep can hurt like hell.

you might have joint oddities, able put things backwards or pull beyond what anyone else can. maybe you wake up with random bruises and marks, or people always say that your skin not feel quite right - soft, inhuman.
well... these can all happen with ehlers danlos and other connective tissue disorders.

do you have pale, cold skin and suspect become vampire? both can happen in many sickness. low iron or dangerously low body weight come to mind, for one.
thyroid problems can throw off temperature regulation, always too hot or too cold, and raynaud's phenomenon means that hands and feet often very cold because blood vessels not function right. if unlucky this can make necrosis and digit loss.

do certain foods trigger problems for you, like chocolate if suspect dog shift? that can be allergy, or other sensitivity like celiac disease. with celiac, things that have even tiny gluten trace can cause problem - and chocolate very often have gluten traces.

do you feel like your size ever change, see things from sudden new perspective? you might just have alice in wonderland syndrome, which often come along with migraines or epilepsy. dissociation possibility too.

and this not even scratch surface on all different symptoms or what else those could be. not say all this because want rain on parades, but because very important figure out what happen in body - always look to mundane before magical.
not everything can be cure and fix, but many illness do come with management techniques so that not put body in danger just through live.
know so much less glamourous than shapeshift, but deserve figure out and know so can live best life.