Ask Me Help Desk - He thinks he's a vampire. No joke. I'm worried.

He thinks he's a vampire. No joke. I'm worried.

I wish I were kidding, but I honestly am not.
My friend asked me if I could keep a secret, and like a good friend, I told him of course I could.
So he tells me he's half-vampire. This was online, that he's saying this. My first thought was that he was messing around with me, but he really isn't.
He says he's got these memories of it and everything, and it's been since he was a kid.
And he's not the kind of "vampire" person that sharpens their teeth or drinks blood (as far as I know.) He just... thinks he is.
I wish I could believe him, but... I don't know what to think.
On occasion, he's a bit depressed, which correlates with psychosis or schizophrenia sometimes, right? I don't know... So... Help?
Is it some form of psychosis? Schizophrenia? They're my only guesses.

I'm only 14, so dealing with this by myself? It's kind of scary.

ANY kind of help would be deeply appreciated.

And, by the way, how would I go about asking him about his... health?. without offending him??

Don't ever agree to meet him there are actually people that D0 this but I really don't think they are vampires, more like vampire wannabes. They have their own organizations and
D0 do 'abnormal' things.

Accepting a friend is all I can see you can do, don't judge him for his beliefs, weather they are rational or not( this is for his question of mental stability) by not judging him you won't alienate him for you.

Nohelp4u is right, DON'T meet up with them,this is a questionable comment on your friends part, but online you can't be made a victim, or made into some kind of scapegoat for someone else's whims.

If it makes you uncomfortable, stop chatting with them, your safety and well being are far more important than his needs.

Both posts above offer great advice. If you are not sure about something like this you can always ask your parents. If I were you I would block this person.

Your first instinct was correct. He is messing around with you. Have you ever known a vampire in real life? People can hide and say any number of things that they want to in their online identities. Since this is becoming uncomfortable and also confusing for you, I would just quit communicating with him. Unplugging him is not going to do any harm to him. You don't really know him. He's not really your "friend." He is an unidentified stranger who is "pulling your leg" so to speak and not being real with you. Just shut him off.

If I were you, I would just shut off all communication with people on whatever site you found him and speak with people on a site such as this about things in which you are interested or have questions about because it is so well moderated. If you want to go communicating with people online that you don't know, then it's best to be doing it on a site such as this.

Anybody doing bogus things on this site is going to get nixed real quickly.

Doing a little bit of research on this may help you. Look up the "Vampire Killings" from 1998. A 17 year old named Rod Ferrell killed 2 people from Eustis, Florida. He thought he was a vampire too! Now he is in prison for life.

Being a "vampire" is a growing "trend" in today's teenage society. Why? I have no idea. The closest you'll get to a "vampire" today is if you pick up a Anne Rice novel or put in an Underworld DVD.

No, I go to school with this guy.
He's my age.
14.
I see him on a daily basis.
And he doesn't do that thing that some "vampire wannabes" do, by like drinking blood and such.
He just, really and honestly, thinks he is.
So... sorry if I wasn't clear in my question.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomuch2take

No, I go to school with this guy.
He's my age.
14.
I see him on a daily basis.
And he doesn't do that thing that some "vampire wannabes" do, by like drinking blood and such.
He just, really and honestly, thinks he is.
So... sorry if I wasn't clear in my question.

Thank you for the clarification. At least he is not a stranger to you.

Have you spoken with your parents, a teacher or a counsellor concerning him?

Comment on NeedKarma's post

I know him in real life.

I've spoken with my OTHER friend, who's going to talk to her therapist about it, because we think maybe her therapist will know.
But no, I haven't said anything to teachers or adults.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomuch2take

I've spoken with my OTHER friend, who's going to talk to her therapist about it, because we think maybe her therapist will know.
But no, I haven't said anything to teachers or adults.

Do you feel that he could be any danger to himself or others right now?

I don't think he's a danger to others. But I don't know about himself, as he gets pretty depressed quite often.

You really ought to tell your parents and also talk to a counsellor at school. You do want to help him, so that is what would be best is to tell those adults. It sounds like someone who is a professional really needs to be speaking with him about what he is thinking and feeling. You could also encourage him to speak with a counsellor. You might say to him, that you are really concerned about him and want him to feel good about himself, so would he please speak with his counsellor. Even the school nurse is someone who could be approached for help.

If he is thinking irrationally and is showing clear signs of being depressed, those are the best things that you can be doing for him.

Okay.
How would I say something to him or an adult without... destroying his trust, though?

I apologize for taking so long to get back to you! The Internet is being really slow right now. Took many minutes to get back onto this site. I think the server for this site sometimes is slow.

Like I said in my answer above,

Quote:

You might say to him, that you are really concerned about him and want him to feel good about himself, so would he please speak with his counselor.

You could also ask him if he wants help. If he says "Yes." then I would ask him if he would mind if you said something to his counselor or the school nurse. Even if he says "No." then that doesn't mean that you can't talk to someone about how you are feeling about this. Keeping trust and confidentiality is what the professionals will do. They want things to be right and good between people who are friends.

That's what those people are there for. They will do everything they can to help you, him and for the two of you to be friends. It's okay to tell them. Please do it.

I know that you want to remain his friend and also keep his trust. But, he does need help.

Thanks so much for your help, I too am sorry I took so long to reply.
I will talk to someone, tomorrow.
I just hope I don't lose his trust, because he's made it obvious that he doesn't think there's anything wrong with what he's saying.

For him there isn't anything wrong,its how he feels.

Maybe his perception of reality, and true reality are a little different.

My belief is, he needs to see someone for further investigation, other than a peer, like you. Someone who can explain to him the right or wrong of this outward behavior(which most of us see as troubled)

BE CAREFUL,

Ken

You are doing the right thing. It will work out. Peggyhill is correct. Also, the fact that he doesn't think there is anything wrong with what he is saying is even more evidence of the fact that he needs some professional help.

Please let us know how things are going. :)

He still will need you as a friend he trusts, who will stand beside him and support him as he receives the professional help that he needs. Since you are someone who is very close to him, there may be strategies in helping his behavior and thoughts in which a counselor and/or therapist might need your help outside of counseling or therapy sessions in order to monitor and support what is happening in whatever treatment he receives.

In helping someone, it takes teamwork a lot of the times. You already are a part of the team because you are seeking out how to help your friend.

Thank you so much.
I'll let you know how things go.

And, thank you for being open and willing to do this for your friend! That's what friends are for, to help each other through sunshine and also the rainy times in life. And, please remember that you are a part of the team! :)

Yeah. Just, on my scale of things I expected to happen in my life? This never even came to mind. But I will be there for him, like you said. I'm not going to ditch him. Friends are friends. In spite of, or maybe because of, their problems.

That is a good way to tell if someone really is your friend.

Some friends are Summer friends. They'll be there during the times without trouble or problems, only when the sun is shining. But, when things get a little out of hand, they are gone. They just like to party and pretend that there are no problems which need to be solved.

However, the Winter friends are like the study Evergreens, they are green no matter what season it is in life. Even when things get rough in life and there are problems along the road, they will be there for each other in spite of the blizzard which may be happening in life.

That's pretty weird. I guess there's 3 things here
1 Hes a vamipre
2 he's in need of some serious help.
3 He's just being an idiot and having fun.

It's up to you to fiqure out what the proper action is.

Too true, Clough. I may not be the greatest friend. But I don't drop people because of their problems. I try to help them. And when I can't, I go to good people like all of you who are helping me to help him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallarookiller

Thats pretty weird. I guess theres 3 things here
1 Hes a vamipre
2 he's in need of some serious help.
3 He's just being an idiot and having fun.

It's up to you to fiqure out what the propper action is.

Hi, wallarookiller!

Just so you know, since you are new here, this is already the third page of posts on this thread. It would be wise when you do answer questions to see what has already been posted, please.

Thank you, kindly! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomuch2take

Too true, Clough. I may not be the greatest friend. But I don't drop people because of their problems. I try to help them. And when I can't, I go to good people like all of you who are helping me to help him.

And just like seeking out help here, you will be speaking with someone in person where you are, tomorrow. You are doing the right thing. Please trust yourself in doing what you are doing. It will be okay. Just be honest and open like you have been here. You are already doing a great job! :)

I wouldn't have a problem if they were A werewolf :E jkjk but sounds like a creep, Probably some weirdo trying to scare people online

I've been talking to my friend more.
I'm even more worried now.
If I had doubts about saying anything before, I don't now.
Delusions or not, he thinks he's been out killing people. For real. And it puts him in a "good mood."

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomuch2take

I've been talking to my friend more.
I'm even more worried now.
If I had doubts about saying anything before, I don't now.
Delusions or not, he thinks he's been out killing people. For real. And it puts him in a "good mood."

Do you want to call a teen help line to talk to someone about this right now?

It's okay, I've got it sorted out.
Thanks so much.
I'm talking to someone tomorrow. Definitely.

Good! Are you okay for now? Cause if you aren't, then I know some others on here who are absolutely loving and caring people who you could also lean on in your concerns for your friend. Do you want me to alert them to this post. I would be more than happy to do that.

Don't EVER agree with him that he is a vampire! This isn't normal behaviour and you should tell him that he should see a phyciatrist and fast!

Clough, I'm okay for now, I think I'm just going to go to sleep.
I know I've said it, but thanks so much.
All I can say is that I'm glad I found this site.
It really helped.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomuch2take

It's okay, I've got it sorted out.
Thanks so much.
I'm talking to someone tomorrow. Definitely.

You definitely have a good head on your shoulders! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomuch2take

Clough, I'm okay for now, I think I'm just going to go to sleep.
I know I've said it, but thanks so much.
All I can say is that I'm glad I found this site.
It really helped.

Good! I'm glad for all of that! Did you receive the private message that I had sent to you earlier? Sometimes when you are new here, you might not notice when you have received one.

I talked to someone today.
And I'm going to check my inbox now.

I'm glad that you spoke with someone! Were they helpful to you?

I'm just wondering how things are going? :)

Hi,
I realise that this isn't normal behaviour, and I can definitely understand your concern, particularly if he thinks he's been out killing, but this isn't necessarily as dangerous as it seems. I've known a lot of people to fabricate their pasts or to make things up about their lives. One claimed to be a count from the Netherlands who was in my country on the witness protection program, another was the daughter of a spy and had been raised as a trained assassin, I've known several "witches", and one, yes, was apparently a vampire.
People can convince themselves of all kinds of things, parituclarly in their teens when emotions are in turmoil and there's so much confusion going on. In a few of these cases, it was evident that some of these people created these lives for themselves because they were unhappy with their own... for some others, it was pure boredom... and a couple actually believed what they were saying. I've known some pretty strange people.
While this isn't normal, and possibly isn't a healthy mindset, it isn't necessarily dangerous or particularly damaging either. I'm not saying that it's a bad idea to talk to someone, in fact, I encourage that, just try not to to freak out about this too much unless you really feel there's a danger.
Keep us updated,
Kal