*General information + Other diseases checklist*
Please read everything in the all of the stickies before posting. Do not earn yourself the "I Didn't Read The FAQ" Merit Badge.

Quick links:

• Vampire Myths and Truths
  
• Is this all in my head?
  
• Diet and Health
  You can suppliment your diet with blood-based recipes, other foods that have key nutrients, as well as making blood substitutions. There are articles about it located here.
  

This material is copyrighted. Period.

Note: A lot of this information (mainly about pranic energy) is not scientifically proven; it is, however, a strongly supported opinion of many (including myself). I am currently having people with slightly varying opinions write additions to this thread. If you think that you can contribute, contact me and I would be greatly appreciative (assuming I approve you to write something- no roleplay bullshit, please).

General Overview
Real vampirism (as misleading as the name is) is an influx of pranic energy(chi/ki/qi/prana/aura/etc.) in an individual...the "vampire" cannot maintain equilibrium of his or her body on the pranic energy, or lack-there-of, that he or she produces. This is solved by searching out another source of pranic energy, found in either blood (which carries this energy), or by psychic feeding (indirect feeding- in essence, "sucking" aural energy from another person or persons, as almost everybody has an excess of this energy that they will not ever put to use). Sorry if that was slightly wordy.
As a final note, we vampires have no super-powers, immortality, or weaknesses out of the ordinary, other than the lacking of the ability to maintain our energies, and a few of us have a slight sensitivity to sunlight or photosesitivity.

Sanguine Feeding
1) Sanguine feeding: taking of blood from a willing donor so a sanguinarian's thirst can be quenched.
2) Feeding should always be done with a willing donor, with no diseases (blood tests can be done), and with somebody you can TRUST.
3) Feeding will create a bond between the vampire and donor, a silver string/astral tendril/blood bond (as it is commonly called). This bond can be used later for psy feeding if you know how. Also, a bond can develop into something you don't want, the donor may become obsessive over the vampire, so be firm and clear about your intentions. The more you feed from a donor, the stronger the bond will become, and the more obsessive (or more prone to becoming so) the donor will be. The general rule of thumb is no more than two sessions per donor.
4) Feeding should be done with a STERILE razor or lancet. Do not cut/use the tool anywhere on the wrists, neck, or any other major blood vessel area. The only areas that should be used are the meaty part of the shoulderblade, inner thigh (away from the groin), and just above the breast/pectoral muscle. If using a razor, cut with the muscle grain, if you don't know which way that is, refer to an anatomy book or ask here.
5) The area should be cleaned before and after feeding, and a sterile bandage should be applied after. NEVER take more than you need. Stay in control...don't get greedy or lustful. If your donor gets dizzy or feels feignt, STOP.
6) Respect your donor, they are giving their life to you, that is the highest level of trust there is.

Autovampirism
1) Autovampirism is defined as feeding from oneself.
2) This is NOT vampirism. Doing this does not make you a vampire, in fact, having a psychological need to do this is a disease. Yes, a disease. Go see a psychologist.
3) If you cannot get a donor (as a sanguinarian), don't resort to this. Why? Because drinking your own blood to "quench your thirst" is the equivilent of eating your own shit for nutrients.

Animals
1) As a quick note to go along with the last point under autovampirism, if you cannot get a donor, don't resort to drinking from animals:
a) Animals carry diseases, just like humans, and are more deadly because we do not have immunities to them.
b) Drinking from animals is illegal. It is animal abuse and you will be arrested, fined, and probably thrown into a mental institution.

Psy Feeding
The preferred method of feeding! Why? Because you don't need to find a willing donor (Note: you should always try your best to find somebody willing, you may find somebody that is aware of your doings and send something your way that is less than wanted). Read on:
1) Psy feeding: Attaining your energy by means of an astral tendril or "staw" by which the vampire essentially sucks out the necessary energy for his or her health.
2) How is this accomplished? The vampire will have to learn, just like anybody else can, to manipulate their energy. From there, a tendril can be created to link the vampire to another person and allows him to feed.
3) If a sanguinarian learns to psy feed (which IS possible), all of the donors which he or she has had already have a link to him or her...through this link, the vampire can feed.
4) The "stronger" the aura of a person, the more abundant the energy, and therefore the less one needs to feed. Tip: try standing in a large crowd- lots of people, lots of energy.
5) Aspects of psy feeding:
a) Incubi/sucubi: Psy feeding through sexual activity, fun and nourishing
b) Dreamwalking: Astrally travelling and feeding off of a person while in the astral dimension. (CAUTION-Don't do this...the astral realm is dangerous and you CAN get seriously injured. Fair warning.)
c) Elemental feeding: Feeding off of the elements (i.e. The earth, plants, the moon, thunderstorms, etc.)
d) Emotional feeding: Well, what else? Feeding off of the energy emitted from emotions.
I suggest all people attempt to learn how to psy feed. It is a very useful skill for obvious reasons, and you get the same energy you need from it as you do blood.

Awakening
1) The awakening is a process much like pueberty where a latent vampire becomes a Vampire (as a boy becomes a man).
2) It *generally* occurs around the age of pueberty.
3) The symptoms are different for everybody. *Certain symptoms that are common* are:
a) sensitivity to light
b) energy lust(blood/psy feeding/other means of attaining)
c) increased sense of sight/hearing/etc.
d) slight increase in speed/strength (probably attributed to pueberty itself, not the awakening)
4) People cannot tell you over the internet if you are awakening or are a vampire, you can spurt out all the symptoms, but you could just be lying out your ass, or be truely sick in some way. The only way to know is to meet an experienced [energy worker] in person...somebody who can feel energy, see energy, etc. They will be able to tell for certain if you have the influx, per se.

Turning/Siring
Turning- Siring/creating a vampire by biting them, or by some ritualistic rite of passage.
My arguement- Vampirism is not a virus or disease, it cannot be spread by saliva, digestion of blood, or blood transfusion. It is a simple concept...like if a dog bit me, I would not become a dog because being a dog is not a disease. If I drank the dog's blood or had it transfused into me (even though that would be impossible, but even so...), I still would not become a dog. Any magical rite or ritual that is said to make you a vampire is a crock...plain and simple. One can learn to psy feed and manipulate energy, but that is far from being a vampire- I can bark, scratch myself, and bite, but I am not a dog. On this note, I must add that it is a pretty well established fact...strongly supported opinion...that you cannot become a vampire, you either are, or aren't. In conclusion, I believe that vampirism is in one's soul.

---

Symptoms Checklist for other diseases:
"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." ~Carl Sagan

Vampirism is an extraordinary condition. The symptoms that one has when affected by it are rather extraordinary to find together. When you are a vampire and you go through your awakening the symptoms can be sometimes rather severe, and seem to be other illnesses. However those illnesses have a different set of symptoms than the ones that will be present, and if you are properly tested for this illnesses, you will come out negative.

Conversely, there are a few diseases out there that have symptoms that are easily confused for the symptoms of vampirism. Here are a few of them, and I'll be adding more ailments as well as their symptoms later:

1. Dehydration

   Symptoms of Dehydration
   
   
   • Dry mouth
     
   • Dry tongue
     
   • Fatigue
     
   • Dark colored urine
     
   • Infrequent urination
     
   • Reduced urine
     
   • Dry skin
     
   • Loose skin
     
   • Wrinkled skin
     
   • Rapid pulse
     
   • Rapid heartbeat
     
   • Rapid breathing
     
   • Muscle cramps
     
   • Muscle weakness
     
   • Sunken eyes
     
   • Light-headedness
     
   • Confusion
     
   • Loss of consciousness
     
   
   From Wrong Diagnosis.
   
   

2. Rickets

   Signs and symptoms of rickets include:
   
   
   
   • Bone pain or tenderness
     
   • dental problems
     
   • muscle weakness (rickety myopathy or "floppy baby syndrome")
     
   • increased tendency for fractures (easily broken bones), especially greenstick fractures
     
   • Skeletal deformity
     
   • Cranial, spinal, and pelvic deformities
     
   • Growth disturbance
     
   • Hypocalcaemia (low level of calcium in the blood), and
     
   • Tetany (uncontrolled muscle spasms all over the body).
     
   • Craniotabes (soft skull)
     
   • Costochondral swelling (aka "rickety rosary" or "rachitic rosary")
     
   • Harrison's groove
     
   • Double malleoli sign due to metaphyseal hyperplasia [1]
     An X-ray or radiograph of an advanced sufferer from rickets tends to present in a classic way: bow legs (outward curve of long bone of the legs) and a deformed chest. Changes in the skull also occur causing a distinctive "square headed" appearance. These deformities persist into adult life if not treated.
     
   
   Long-term consequences include permanent bends or disfiguration of the long bones, and a curved back.
   
   

3. Iron Deficiency Anemia

   Mild iron deficiency anemia may not cause noticeable symptoms. If anemia is severe, symptoms may include:
   
   
   
   • Weakness, fatigue, or lack of stamina.
     
   • Shortness of breath during exercise.
     
   • Headache.
     
   • Difficulty concentrating.
     
   • Irritability.
     
   • Dizziness.
     
   • Pale skin.
     
   • Craving substances that are not food (pica). In particular, a craving for ice can be a sign of iron deficiency anemia.
     
   
   Other signs may include:
   
   
   
   • Rapid heartbeat.
     
   • Brittle fingernails and toenails.
     
   • Cracked lips.
     
   • Smooth, sore tongue.
     
   
   
   From WebMD.
   
   

4. Lead poisoning

   
   The signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in children are nonspecific and may include:
   
   
   
   • Irritability
     
   • Loss of appetite
     
   • Weight loss
     
   • Sluggishness
     
   • Abdominal pain
     
   • Vomiting
     
   • Constipation
     
   • Unusual pallor (paleness) from anemia
     
   • Learning difficulties
     
   
   Signs and symptoms in adults
   Although children are primarily at risk, lead poisoning is also dangerous to adults. Signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in adults may include:
   
   
   
   • Pain, numbness or tingling of the extremities
     
   • Muscular weakness
     
   • Headache
     
   • Abdominal pain
     
   • Memory loss
     
   • Mood disorders
     
   • Reduced sperm count, abnormal sperm
     Also, lead poisoning can lead to pika*, the urge to eat inedible or unusual objects, such as more lead paint chips, or perhaps blood.
     
   
   Taken from MayoClinic.com.
   *not taken from Mayo Clinic
   
   

5. Hypoglycemia

   The first set of symptoms are called neuro-genic (or sympathetic) because they relate to the nervous system’s response to hypoglycemia. Patients may experience any of the following;
   
   
   • nervousness,
     
   • sweating,
     
   • intense hunger,
     
   • trembling,
     
   • weakness,
     
   • palpitations, and
     
   • often have trouble speaking.
     
   
   If a person does not or cannot respond by eating something to raise blood glucose, the levels of glucose continue to drop. Somewhere in the 45 mg/dl range, most patients progress to neuro-glyco-penic ranges (the brain is not getting enough glucose). At this point, symptoms progress to confusion, drowsiness, changes in behavior, coma and seizure.
   
   From MedicineNet's Hypoglycemia Information.
   
   

6. Diabetes

   People who think they might have diabetes must visit a physician for diagnosis. They might have SOME or NONE of the following symptoms:
   
   • Frequent urination
     
   • Excessive thirst
     
   • Unexplained weight loss
     
   • Extreme hunger
     
   • Sudden vision changes
     
   • Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
     
   • Feeling very tired much of the time
     
   • Very dry skin
     
   • Sores that are slow to heal
     
   • More infections than usual.
     
   • Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains may accompany some of these symptoms in the abrupt onset of insulin-dependent diabetes, now called type 1 diabetes.
     
   
   From The Centers of Disease Control website.
   
   

7. Lupus

   Common signs of lupus are:
   
   
   • Red rash or color change on the face, often in the shape of a butterfly across the nose and cheeks
     
   • Painful or swollen joints
     
   • Unexplained fever
     
   • Chest pain with deep breathing
     
   • Swollen glands
     
   • Extreme fatigue (feeling tired all the time)
     
   • Unusual hair loss (mainly on the scalp)
     
   • Pale or purple fingers or toes from cold or stress
     
   • Sensitivity to the sun
     
   • Low blood count
     
   • Depression, trouble thinking, and/or memory problems
     
   • Other signs are mouth sores, unexplained seizures (convulsions), “seeing things” (hallucinations), repeated miscarriages, and unexplained kidney problems.
     
   
   From Do I Have Lupus?
   
   

8. Porphyria

   When heme production is faulty, porphyrins are overproduced and lend a reddish-purple color to urine.
   
   The cutaneous porphyrias cause sun sensitivity, with blistering typically on the face, back of the hands, and other sun-exposed areas. The most common of these is porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT). Triggering factors are alcohol use, estrogen, iron, and liver disease, particularly hepatitis C.
   
   The acute porphyrias typically cause abdominal pain and nausea. Some patients have personality changes and seizures at the outset. With time the illness can involve weakness in many different muscles.
   
   Porphyria affects either the nervous system or the skin. When porphyria affects the nervous system, it can cause chest pain, abdominal pain, muscle cramps, weakness, hallucinations, seizures, purple-red-colored urine, or mental disorders like depression, anxiety, and paranoia. When porphyria affects the skin, blisters, itching, swelling, and sensitivity to the sun can result.
   
   The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Porphyria includes the 29 symptoms listed below:
   
   
   
   • Urine color changes
     
   • Darkened urine
     
   • Nerve complication symptoms
     
     
     
     • Chest pain
       
     • Abdominal pain
       
     • Muscle cramps
       
     • Muscle weakness
       
     • Hallucinations
       
     • Seizures
       
     • Depression
       
     • Anxiety
       
     • Paranoia
       
     • High blood pressure
       
     • Rapid pulse
       
     • Fever
       
     
     
   • Skin complication symptoms
     
     
     
     • Skin blisters
       
     • Skin itching
       
     • Skin swelling
       
     • Sun sensitivity
       
     • Photosensitivity
       
     • Paresthesias
       
     • Hair growth abnormalities
       
     • Skin pigment changes
       
     
     
   • Gastrointestinal upset
     
     
     
     • Abdominal pain
       
     • Vomiting
       
     • Nausea
       
     • Constipation
       
     
     
   
   The only way to be sure you have porphyria is through a series of tests that include:
   
   
   
   • Blood tests
     
   • Urine tests for porphyrins
     
   • Stool tests for porphyrins
     
   
   From Wrong Diagnosis.
   
   

9. Xeroderma Pigmentosa

   
   
   Symptoms:
   
   • A sunburn that does not heal following minimal sun exposure
     
   • Blistering following minimal sun exposure
     
   • Cutaneous telangiectasia [abnormal dilation of blood vessels near the surface of the skin]
     
   • Increasing irregular pigmentation of the skin
     
   • Crusting of the skin
     
   • Scaling of the skin
     
   • Oozing raw skin surface
     
   • Discomfort when exposed to bright light ( photophobia )
     
   • Neurologic changes are sometimes noted
     
   
   
   From The University of Maryland Medical Center website.
   
   

10. Bipolar Disorder

    Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include:
    
    
    
    • Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
      
    • Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood
      
    • Extreme irritability
      
    • Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
      
    • Distractibility, can't concentrate well
      
    • Little sleep needed
      
    • Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
      
    • Poor judgment
      
    • Spending sprees
      
    • A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
      
    • Increased sexual drive
      
    • Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
      
    • Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
      
    • Denial that anything is wrong
      
    A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.
    
    Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) include:
    
    
    • Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood
      
    • Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
      
    • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
      
    • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
      
    • Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being "slowed down"
      
    • Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
      
    • Restlessness or irritability
      
    • Sleeping too much, or can't sleep
      
    • Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain
      
    • Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury
      
    • Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
      
    A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer.
    
    A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania. Hypomania may feel good to the person who experiences it and may even be associated with good functioning and enhanced productivity. Thus even when family and friends learn to recognize the mood swings as possible bipolar disorder, the person may deny that anything is wrong. Without proper treatment, however, hypomania can become severe mania in some people or can switch into depression.
    
    Sometimes, severe episodes of mania or depression include symptoms of psychosis (or psychotic symptoms). Common psychotic symptoms are hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or otherwise sensing the presence of things not actually there) and delusions (false, strongly held beliefs not influenced by logical reasoning or explained by a person's usual cultural concepts). Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder tend to reflect the extreme mood state at the time. For example, delusions of grandiosity, such as believing one is the President or has special powers or wealth, may occur during mania; delusions of guilt or worthlessness, such as believing that one is ruined and penniless or has committed some terrible crime, may appear during depression. People with bipolar disorder who have these symptoms are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as having schizophrenia, another severe mental illness.
    
    From The National Institute of Mental Health website.
    
    

11. Schizotypal Personality Disorder

    Symptoms of schizotypal personality disorder include:
    
    
    
    • Incorrect interpretation of events, including feeling that external events have personal meaning
      
    • Peculiar thinking, beliefs or behavior
      
    • Belief in special powers, such as telepathy
      
    • Perceptual alterations, in some cases bodily illusions, including "phantom pains" or other distortions in the sense of touch
      
    • Idiosyncratic speech, such as loose or vague patterns of speaking or tendency to go off on tangents
      
    • Suspicious or paranoid ideas
      
    • Flat emotions or inappropriate emotional responses
      
    • Lack of close friends outside of the immediate family
      
    • Persistent and excessive social anxiety that doesn't abate with time
      
    
    Schizotypal personality disorder can easily be confused with schizophrenia, which is characterized by intense psychosis, a severe mental state characterized by a loss of contact with reality. While schizotypal personalities may experience brief psychotic episodes with delusions or hallucinations, they are not as pronounced, frequent or intense as in schizophrenia.
    
    Both disorders, along with schizoid personality disorder, belong to what's generally referred to as the "schizophrenic spectrum." Schizotypal personality falls in the middle of the spectrum, with schizoid personality disorder on the milder end and schizophrenia on the more severe end.
    
    From MayoClinic.com.
    

And last, but by no means least:

Hypochondria

Symptoms of hypochondria include, but are not limited to:

• If you think you have most, if not everything listed above.