Do you believe in vampires? Do you think they really exist? Well, for many, it would be really surprising to find out that vampires are actually real. According to recent reports, these self-identified vampires are real people who may drink blood or sleep in coffins. They suffer from certain medical conditions, face health issues, and definitely need psychotherapy and optimum medical help.
The said conclusion was based from the study of the director of social work at Idaho State University, DJ Williams. Williams, together with another researcher at the College of the Canyons, his co-author Emily E. Prior, interviewed 11 self-called vampires from across the South Africa and the United States. These self-called or self-identified vampires are classified as 'real life vampires' who were believed to be reluctant to come out to clinicians because they were concerned about being labeled as weird, wicked, psychopathological, and not competent to perform some typical social roles.
However, due to their rather unusual urges, lifestyles, and habits, sometimes things go out of control. For example, in a case involving real life vampires, three people were charged for a vampire style attack on a Wellington teenager, on February 2010. The victim was bitten several times on his arm, torso, and chest.
However, aside from their unusual habits, the study also found out that the study's subjects and participants can generally perform 'normally' in their occupational and social roles. Some of the so-called 'real life vampires' were even able to achieve considerable professional success in their chosen careers.
As far as the research findings and conclusions are concerned, Williams advised that vampirism should be viewed by clinicians as an "alternative identity" similar to those adopted by otherkin, goths, and furries.
He also suggested that in our modern age characterized by rapid advances in technology, it might be possible to provide a social environment conductive to developing unconventional and unique identities. In this context, it is not expected to encounter a proliferation in the near future of more nontraditional identities.
Williams made a call to his fellow social science professionals and social workers to remember that people who identify themselves as vampires are nothing more than people like us. They are no super-humans and do not have different issues than the rest of us who have mainstream identities.
Self-identified vampires participate in the broader communities in which they live and work regular jobs. Same as people in the mainstream, various health issues may affect self-identified vampires. They may deal with stress, education or career transitions, relationship difficulties, and various other struggles commonly faced by us all.
