Have you ever met a Vampire? Are you sure?

Oct 3, 2013 | Stacy Matson | Celebrity Health
Have you ever met a Vampire? Are you sure?

image by: Justin McIntosh

When it comes to vampires, most people think of the classic Hollywood image of the suave Transylvanian Count, or if you’re 14 you think of the sparkly Cullen family, right?

Or, maybe you’re like me and you think of the vampires from Scooby Doo, or Count Chocula. They’re all interesting, but I like my versions because they are a little less…scary, and therefore, less real.

Maybe you’re a skeptic and you don’t believe vampires exist at all. Well, I wouldn’t get too comfortable with that idea. Think about it, there are thousands of vampire legends out there and nearly every culture on the planet has some kind of myth about undead, blood-sucking creatures. Those stories had to come from somewhere. Which got me thinking.

Even though logically I know vampires couldn’t possibly be real…Somewhere, way back in my subconscious mind, my 10 year-old self is asking my grown-up self, “Are you sure there’s no such thing as vampires?” Granted, this conversation usually happens when I’m home alone, or after I’ve watched a scary movie and I have to walk downstairs by myself. But seriously, my 10 year-old self might be on to something. I mean it’s not like vampires announce themselves every time they enter a room, and they are supposed to be sneaky and secretive. So to be sure, I did a little research, and I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but vampires are real... It’s true.

Have you heard of Renfield's Syndrome? Probably not, but don't worry; you're not alone. Renfield's syndrome is a form of clinical vampirism. Yep, vampirism. It’s a rare psychiatric disorder in which a person feels compelled to consume blood. The condition is named after a character in Bram Stoker's “Dracula” that ate flies in order to absorb their “life force.” Eventually, Renfield started to feed the flies to spiders, and the spiders to birds, and then he would eat the live birds, hoping to obtain a greater concentration of life force energy.

In modern day manifestations, Renfield's syndrome is characterized by a compulsive need to drink blood and an affinity for the dead. People who suffer from this disorder truly feel that they receive power or energy through the consumption of blood. Symptoms develop at a young age and are usually triggered by an event in which the child becomes excited when they taste blood or they find bleeding enjoyable. As the child enters puberty, the excitement they feel when they see or taste blood becomes sexual or erotic in nature.

Renfield’s syndrome develops in three distinct phases.

Autovampirism – In the first phase, the person consumes blood from his or her own wounds. As this stage progresses, the person will begin to self-inflict wounds, and depending on the severity of the illness, they will open major arteries to satiate their need.

Zoophagia – During the second phase, the person will start consuming live creatures, such as insects, cats, dogs, and birds to absorb their life force.

Vampirism – The third phase includes drinking the blood of another person. Because this phase includes intense physical cravings, people with Renfield’s are often forced to take extreme measures to satiate their craving for human blood. For example, they have been known to steal blood from hospitals, or they seek out a willing “donor,” or they resort to violence.

Does this frighten you? Because it creeps me out. Gross factor aside, do these people even consider the health risks of drinking blood? Speaking as a true germaphobe… I’m fairly certain that most doctors would agree that ingesting or donating blood without the proper medical equipment is dangerous, as it puts anyone involved at risk for infectious diseases like HIV or hepatitis, just to name a few.

Anyway, back to my original thought, yes, technically “vampires” are real, and my 10 year-old self was right all along. And, because of this, you should be very careful in case you come in contact with one, because unlike the movie version of vampires, they really do look like you, or that creepy neighbor of yours…

Yes, that neighbor. Think about it, do animals go crazy when they are around him? Is he really, freakishly strong? Will he not enter your house unless specifically invited? Does he have an aversion to the sun? I know, these are all stereotypical characteristics, but if your neighbor exhibits any of these behaviors, you might want to sleep with some garlic around your neck and keep a wooden stake or some Holy water under your pillow. Chances are your neighbor is a creature of the night; and I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want to end up on the tasting menu at my neighbor’s next “dinner party.”

Happy Halloween!


Stacy Matson, a health enthusiast from Southern California, regularly blogs on Celebrity Health for A Healthier World, as well as contributing to the Best of the Best.

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