I'm very much inclined to agree with you mate.

I think the need for blood is a psychological thing myself, Sense we all know that the "Undead" is only something in book's and movie's, The big problem here is that too many people find the vampire to be a sexy creature they don't always see the darker side of this practice, I have nothing against the vampire movement, It's a shame that a few bad apple's have brought negative insite to it i think....I have a good friend that has "donor's" who give him blood yet he feel's it's something he must hide due to the fact ..Other people lable him a freak, When un fact he's a very smart well rounded person....

So many people here need anger management it's unbelievable.

As I expected, you cannot accept what you do not personally know and attempt to explain it in a way that seems, somehow less worrisome to you. Those of us who are vampires know it is beyond mental, it is a physical need. At first that is all it is, we question it, fight to be "normal" hate ourselves for even thinking of doing what we must and even consider mental illness as the cause. Eventually, to varying degrees in each, we vamp out, lose control of the beast as it were and end up doing something we regret to get blood. The difference in how we feel is so marked at that point that, unless we are an absolute fool, we finally admit we need it. Acceptance takes more time but, we do come to it. by the time we reach 30 and beyond it is simply a fact of life we must cope with, even joke and play about
I am cautious of any who claim vampirism myself, there are too many who see it as something glamorous, sexy, powerful or superhuman. the reality is that it's a minor hassle and a detriment to ourselves when we do not have a donor. We all feel the physical, and yes psychological effects of extended blood famine. for each it's different and the severity varies. Young vampires who have had little or no fresh blood generally cope better than older ones who lose thier donor for whatever reason. Stress, illness even over exertion can trigger increased need (thirst for blood or energy)
Most of what you see in fiction is just that, fiction. We are not immortal, though some theorize that extremely long lives are possible for us. We cannot alter our form, fly nor do we possess extraordinary strength. Garlic and religious symbols are a matter of personal taste and not threat. Sunlight will not kill us though photosensitivity is more common among us than "normal" people. For most sunglasses, sunblock SPF 40, and covering as much exposed skin as is practical suffices when we need to go out in direct sun. Often we wear the sunglasses even in a brightly lit room, it's photo sensitivity, that includes all light not just the sun. And yes a few do enjoy the sun and sport lovely tans, spend hours outdoors and it doesn't bother them at all.
Sanguinarius.org hosts a wealth of good information should you wish to research primarily sanguinarian, but also psychic vampires.

So, Bluemoods.
Do you personally dress "alternatively"?
And do many of your "kind"?

I don't dress alternatively, unless denim jeans and short sleeve button downs are alternative. Some do, but mostly the youngsters. We are like anybody else, youth tend toward the latest fads and styles. Some are emo, goth etc.., others punk or into hip hop. You can pick a lifestyler or wanna be by thier dress and manner, but not a real vampire. We might be your teacher, banker, mechanic, lawyer, mail carrier etc...

Hehe in my crowd, this is alternative

How did you find out?

I went through what we call awakening, as all real vampires do. Generally sometime near puberty we begin to notice differences and, in retrospect, it is our first twoof (the effects we suffer when we go too long without feeding) Awakening is different for each but, we question strange urges, feeling tired, inability to focus and odd cravings. Most go so far as to question thier sanity before we find the information on real vampires, or as I did lose control and have a feed before we catch ourselves.
For me it was during a camping trip with a friend, she cut her arm rather deeply during a hike, before I though as to what I was doing, I liked the blood off her arm. Scared myself, but there was no mistaking the satisfaction and the need for more, which I was too frightened to ask for. Now, not only do I know I'm a flighty, poor student but 'what is wrong with me?' I didn't feed well that time, and not at all for months but, I knew I needed to, just to afraid to ask it of anyone. Finally I did ask, telling a friend I had been reading books and just wanted to see what it would be like. Partial a lie, but it got me the chance to feed properly, the final experiment to convince myself what I was feeling was real.
over the years I have learned to accept it and cope, not letting it change my life drastically.

Not trying to sound disrespectful here BlueMoods but can you tell me why exactly do you need blood? In what way does taking blood orally effect your body? What segments/ingredients of orally intaken blood serve what purposes exactly for your body to function properly?
If it was me, I'd get myself checked (to try to find out how it effects my body). Again, not trying to be disrespectful but I'm curious as hell.

Should I have to forgo feeding for extended periods, say beyond a month I go into what we refer to as a vamp out. About a week after a feed it starts and builds from there if I don't feed. Irritability, headache that no pain killer, even morphine will touch, tiredness similar to chronic fatigue. Eventually depression, violent mood swings, greater photosensitive. Achy as if I had ran a marathon, restless and unable to focus . At it's worst I know I would be capable of taking violent measures to feed, so isolate myself to prevent that. And yes I will resort to animals in the end, disgusting and shameful I agree, but we will go to extremes when the need is driving us hard.
No vampire likes admitting to vamping out, but it happens. Makes us wonder if we really do have the capacity to be killers, though we don't want to think it possible. Most of us are gentle and form strong bonds with friends and loved ones, yet in deep need even they could be an unwilling meal. I know it in myself as most older vampires do, hate that I am capable of even thinking that sort of thing and try to avoid vamping if possible.

Ummm, you haven't exacty answered my question.

Alara, I did answer, without it, I go into vamp out. In short I need it to be health. Yes I know most people do not digest blood, but we do. I have had donors experiment, both of us taking the 1-2 cups I normally take in a feeding, they get the coffee grounds type stool that shows the didn't digest it, I do not nor does any real sanguine vampire. It is a biological need and we do digest it as easily as you would eggs or bread.

I didn't ask you what would happen if you stopped intaking blood.

What I asked was (some copy/paste action here):
In what way does taking blood orally effect your body? What segments/ingredients of orally intaken blood serve what purposes exactly for your body to function properly?

In medical terms please. That would help me understand it better.

We refer to the primary component we need as prana, life energy. There are psi vamps that can take it directly without blood. The nutritional elements are not that significant in the amounts we take which can vary from 1 or two ounces to as much as a pint in a feeding. I suppose all of it has some value to our bodies, but prana is the primary thing. Dead blood does not satisfy us beyond the immediate taste and mouth feel. As for science, there are any number of theories, but so far no testing has found an exact reason.
What we do know is that it isn't a disease and that it is a need as much as nutritious food is for you. Sure you could eat unhealthy foods only and survive a long time, but you would feel lousy and suffer the effects of deficiencies. Same for us, we can survive without feeding, but the results are more than we care to endure if we don't have to. And, yes there are many who do not have donors and are forced to endure extended time in deep need. If I come on one of them, I will gladly give them a feed. Other than that I don't allow feeds simply because it draws me into need almost immediately.

Please............

There is NO scientific basis for this. You present it all matter-of-factly and logically, and I applaud that, but I can not believe any of this. The longer it gets discussed, the more "Anne Ricish" it gets. IF you saw a doctor, and IF they verified your ability to digest blood (human or animal), it would be the find of the century. A genetic mutation like that would be amazing.

Agreed. I'd love to see some proof. And if I felt like I needed blood (not thrashing your need or mocking you Blue) I'd def try to look at it from all sides. I'd get tested and try to discover the scientific/medical explanation behind it.

Edit: I think that, regarding your spiritual outlook on the matter Blue that if something is TRUE then spirituality and science will come to the same conclusions. If not emediatly, then certainly eventually.

Belive me I tried to find any other explanation during awakening, still hoping for something better. I still go for tests as medicine improves it's testing. We all want answers in stone, maybe a pill that replaces blood. That would be a dream, just take a pill and no more finding donors, having to tell a love what you know will bring questions an doubt etc...

What kind of tests did you try? What were the results? How did you explain the need for the test to a doctor? What did he/she say?

You must drink blood because you have a decease or something or just for the lifestyle of the vampires?
Where do you get the blood from? Donors, hospitals?

Tests for any illnesses that may cause lethargy, chronic headaches, photosensitivity, mood swings. Even saw several coucelors wondering if it was depression, ADD, you name it. Was perscribed several meds, all to no avail. medications don't help and no test has been possitive for anything, routine or otherwise.
I have a donor, and yes we are both tested regularly to prevent any blood born diseases. No I don't consider being a sanguinarian a disease or a lifestyle choice, simply a need, one I and others have to cope with. Why some chose to drink blood when they don't need to is beyond me. personally asking a new donor is not enjoyable nor is having to tell a new love when a relationship gets serious enogh that I can't hide it any longer with her.

What about tests that can explain and verify the need to intake blood orally? And explain what kind of an effect it has on your body when intaken in such a way?

I know I'm pushing it. But this is just me paraphrasing my original question in this thread.

If the body had a true need to ingest blood, you could go to doctors and/or a scientist and be tested to prove this. I imagine it would be easy to tell if your body really needed it or that its in you mind like I think it is.

Do you know the reaction you get when you try telling a medical professional that you drank a friends blood and it alleviated the complaints you were seeing them about? Not a good reaction, made that mistake once. First you get lectured on the diseases human blood can carry, then in as many words told you are crazy and sent to a psychologist. They want to inspect you for signs of self mutilation, question every aspect of your life then send you to a psychiatrist who prescribes some drug which, if it has any effect, just enhances what you are already fighting. I won't be repeating that anytime soon.
Feeding stops, or as long as I have a donor, prevents the aches and fatigue that come with not feeding, something like the flu but no fever or upset stomach at the mildest. As far as mental goes, beyond satisfying a craving, without feeding I'm not at my peak, not as alert, cannot focus as well and, in time will be irritable and moody which is not me.
Vamp out is no fun, but at times I wish doubters could feel it just once. One round and you will do what you have to in order to prevent it. honestly I'd rather be strung up by my heels than go through that again but, chances are I will again someday. we aren't readily accepted, and donors are hard to find. and yes several times I have been without a donor. Twice long enough to get stupid and regret it, once sent me to jail on attempted assault charges. fortunately attempted was as far as I got. I have talked to a few who have blacked out during a vamp out and done worse, none that have killed. I would hope, that in general we aren't capable of that.

What you describe above sound like mental illness. Sorry, but it does.

Sorry guys, but BlueMoods can't explain it in scientific terms, there's nothing scientific that can justify how he/she feels. The "energy" he speaks of(Prana) is a strictly exists in the realm of belief...much like any religion.....and he is correct with what would happen if he/she went to a physician.

Then he can't expect us to take hime seriously. I am not being rude just stating fact.

I'm aware that going to a doc's office and saying; 'Hey Doc, I'm having this blood craving can you run some tests and see why?' would make a lot of doctors have you get your pretty little head checked. But not all of them. A curious doctor that would be willing to really listen to me might be interested. And yes, I'd go through the psychiatric evaluation etc. whatever it took to understand such an extraordinary phenomenon that has yet to be verified by science.
Till then, I'll have to take it as a 'belief' BlueMoods has. Nothing more, nothing less.

Edit: It's just that I couldn't just accept it without searching for all causes and explanations I could get, scientific, spiritual etc. One point of view wouldn't suffice.

Unless you were perfectly satisfied with your own conclusions, Alara.

I agree. We're all different. If BlueMoods is satisfied with his/her belief it's fine with me. I just can't believe it until I learn more about it from every angle I can think of.

Exactly, if you believe that the prana contained in blood is what you need to feel good...then it is....especially if your comfortable with it. Now, if you said that you aren't happy with it and have been searching for help, and continue to do so to this day, that would be a horse of a different color.

I can agree with that. But my quote below still stands I think.

Wow when I logged off this site two days ago I thought this Topic I put out would have died off by now. And then a real vampire comes on and describes their lifestyle and answers my question about if there are any modern vampires. Amazing Thanks for all the replies guys and thankyou blue moods for posting. Lets keep this one going. By the way I was thinking of the vamp out situation as more or less that example of the kid who wears "magic sunglasses" so he would be tough enough to cross the road. When did you realize that blood is what you needed to not vamp out? I know you said at a puberty age but none the less what led you to try blood? What if you ate frosted flakes or something and had the same energy lifting as the blood did? Mainly what popped in your head and said "Drink blood"? Do you think you would still feed on blood or have the feeling if you never knew that blood was the supplement?

Dave, I wish Frosted Flakes had been the answer I did the medical trip, still do when I come on some new possibility. The first time, I reacted to an accidental cut on a friend, I suppose on instinct more than anything else. Luckily it was during a camping trip and all I could do was shrug it off with a comment about us not having any way to clean the cut with us. Yes I frightened my friend and myself but, it did let me know my desire to taste fresh blood was more than just a passing fancy. Yes before this I had resorted to a bit of self feeding. Useless by the way in the long term, and a bad habit to fall into which, like dead blood will settle the taste for an hour or so but, that's all it does. It won't satisfy need.
Had I never tried fresh blood, no, I wouldn't drink it. were there a pill or injection, even with my fear of needles, I'd take it gladly. Would I chose this if I could write my own physiology? No. I don't hate what I am, not now, I did for years, especially after a bad vamp out which was more or less self inflicted. I wasn't about to give in and feed again, I thought I could control it for the rest of my life. Not so, I can't except to find a donor. That was the hardest lesson for me, the one that finally convinced me I was not imagining.
Oh side note, no I wasn't interested in horror as a youth, wasn't allowed it in our home due to religious beliefs. I am a little more relaxed on that than were my parents, but still faith and God are a large part of my life. And, except for need I am a lacto - ovo vegetarian (use dairy and eggs but no animal fats or flesh) a religious choice there.

BlueMoods, would you say you are a melancholic person? How would you describe your character? Do you think you were "cursed" by this need to intake blood, in a sense that it's a burden, not an ACTUAL curse?

Edit: typonitis

No not melancholic, closer to the opposite. easy going, always out for fun, as my GF calls me "equal opportunity insulter" I tease and pick at anyone I care a bout, all in fun. No I don't see being a vampire as a curse or even a burden, a bit of a hassle and a pain in the rear at times but, no curse or burden. when I'm relaxed with the people around me, I don't hide it, even make jokes of it. Most of my church knows, some figure I'm a bit off my rocker, some have a hard time with my diet, most have figured out that it isn't anything to fear or hate, no curse not evil and not insane.

this is psychological however, ned physical.

The fatigue, aching, increased photo sensitivity all physical, yes part of it is psychological or at least bio chemical. Focus, mood, irritability, those aspects are psychological. The first thing I notice is the restlessness and headache, that starts within 24-36 hours of my last feed, but I can push it to the back of my mind for several days. Like anyone with relatively chronic discomfort, I push it off, use activities and relaxation techniques to alleviate it for a while. i won't feed more than once a week from a single donor.
Here, I could as often as every 72 hours from a donor health standpoint but, in larger communities a donor may feed two or three vampires or bloodists and it's to my detriment if I allow myself to fall into feeding at the first twinge of need. Another unwritten rule any real vampire will not allow a person with self mutilation issues or a history of suicidal tendencies (or an attempt) to be a donor. Some may not be so careful, but we have enough of a bad reputation as a group, irresponsibility by even one vampire only adds to that negative impression.

Yes.

If this were a true condition, then it could be tested and eventually treated. You just want to be a vampire for whatever the reason.Sorry, I don't believe a word of what you said. There have been plenty of wannbe vampires on this board. Nothing unusual. Believe what you want, but to make such a claim the burden of proof is on you.

I never got the coffin or garlic thing.

LMAO me either, garlic makes great food and coffins are just too cramped to be any fun., on second thought one wide and two deep, hmmm we may not sleep but I could make that fun with my love (sorry I couldn't resist)

BlueMoods, how much blood do you take from a single donor per week? The approx. amount if not exact please. I saw you mentioned a cup or two a few pages earlier. That seems like a lot of blood to lose for a single person.

There is something, your faith. You said that you believe in God. I will asume you mean the God of Christian or Jewish faith. Have you ever looked toward spiritual healing? From prayer to the hands on approach. I have seen for myself the miracles that such healing can do. From the believers point of view all things can be accoplished through Christ and the Father. So Where science fails you your faith should pull you through and help you.

The physical responses though will be psychosemetic though, it is still psychological as drinking blood is something the human body is designed not to do. It is in fact an unhealthy thing to do.

I don't feel vampires are real at all. People need to feel different in many ways and the people today to truely believe that they are vampires are just nuts. This type of behavior is bad for everyone. There is no historical evidence that vampires exist that I know of. Has any one seen any proff of this?

you should read the last few pages of this topic. There is an acclaimed one speaking.

I've covered the basics, so one final recap. whether science can prove it or not really doesn't matter to me, I know what I am, and I have done enough experimenting on my own as well as had enough negative test results from medicine to convince myself.
As for the amount at each feeding, I take on average 12-16 ounces, that varies with each vampire, some take only an ounce or two, other, as I do come close to a full pint. for reasons of donor health and stomach capacity much more than that is not taken. Any of us with any responsibility won't allow a donor to give more than a pint every 72 hours total to all he or she feeds. Personally I recommend my donor either not feed another, or if they do only a light feeder or possibly psi vampire, even then never within 72 hours of feeding me.
Religious wise I am a practicing Christian though open minded on that, and willing to admit that no one religion is 100% correct. I may be wrong, but my faith serves me well in my spiritual life.
Vampire is NOT who I am, only one aspect of my life which is not Gothic, emo, S&M or any other alternative lifestyle. by trade I am a cattle rancher, also assistant leader in my church's youth group. So why speak out here? partially to dispel a few of the common myths, partially because I can answer specific questions and, hopefully at least some will see that the real vampires are not irresponsible, careless roleplayers any more than we are anything supernatural, not superior nor inferior to any other person, just a bit different in one aspect of our lives.
Read this topic, then if I haven't answered your question, please ask. I don't think the moderators want this to turn into a series of repeated questions and answers. I don't intend to convince anyone we are real, only to offer my perspective and knowledge as one, whether you accept us as having a real physical need or not is your decision. I don't fault any for doubting between the roleplayers, lifestylers, bloodist and fiction we are hard to accept for what we are. Often I'd like to ask everyone else to prove they are what they know they are. One forum has a section 'Prove you are a vampire" followed by "Prove you are human" interesting approach and it's no easier to prove one than the other. The trouble is a vampire is human and there are qualities we all share that, if you include all of the sub classifications of vampires all of you could be poured into at least once in your lives, yet, most here, I would wager, are not vampires of any kind.
In simplest terms need vs desire separates a vampire from a bloodist or skilled psychic energy worker. That is a bit over simplified, but is the basic test within ourselves that we all have to answer.

I said this in another thread; there are no modern vampires, just emo goth teenagers who dress up all black and think just because their canine teeth are slightly longer than everyone elses, they must be vampires. They also tend to convince themselves that they need blood, so they drink it, and eventually they have a dependency on it.

Unless your simply talking about how vampires are portrayed today in TV, Movies, and Video Games, then okay. Those are cool. Much cooler than the classic vampire. Examples follow:

Okay, I can't find a good pic of Seras Victoria so I give you BloodRayne.



Movie sucked terribly, but the game was good. Wish I played the second...

I won't fuel a war here except to say when I was a teenager nobody had ever heard of goth or emo and nobody considered long canines anything but a dental abormality. And no I don't have such teeth.