Latent Hemovariant Disorder (LHD) is the medical terminology that this version of contemporary earth employs to pathologize what is colloquially known as
vampirism.
Research on LHD is scant: until recently, it was regarded simply as a moral failing or subcategory of psychopathy. However, recent research suggests that LHD is genetically inherited and that the more psychotic symptoms only manifest under certain conditions.
People with LHD are
not undead, according to APA. People with LHD refer to the trigger as the moment of their death, but the medical community disputes the terminology. According to medical professionals, a near-death traumatic event activates some latent trait that accelerates the patient's healing to prevent true 'death' from ever occurring. Notably, this only takes place if the patient comes into contact with fresh (i.e., living) human blood at the moment of death. Nonetheless, the different presentations of LHD have come to be distinguished as "pre-rez" and "post-rez."
Anyone with LHD may experience any of the following
pre-rez symptoms:
- dizziness, nausea or migraines resulting from...
- hypersensitivity to light, textures, temperatures, smells, and sounds
- poor blood circulation / cold extremities
- repetitive compulsive behaviors
- hypoglycemia and/or anemia without an iron-rich diet
- intrusive thoughts
- hyperfocus and strong pattern recognition
- rumination and depressive traits
- inflammation and joint pain
Post-rez symptoms also include:
- antisocial behaviors (manipulation, risk-taking, disregard for social norms)
- vivid and intrusive flashbacks
- accelerated healing
- extended lifespan
- increased appetite
- severe mood swings
- dissociation, depersonalization, derealization, and reduced empathy
- hunger/desire to consume living human blood (including from other people with LHD)
In western societies, much of the
LHD discourse is cure-focused. Rather than research synthetic blood alternatives, the medical community has resolved that people with LHD don't actually
need living human blood to survive, but that their compulsive hunger is a damaging symptom. Medical communities recommend
suppression of/resistance to blood hunger, framing it as a pathological urge that ought to be suppressed and overcome on the road to rehabilitation.
Despite this, post-rez people with LHD who are
denied living human blood experience the following symptoms:
- slowed or difficult breathing
- lowered heart rate
- lowered core body temperature
- fatigue
- violent urges/episodes
In order to make it easier to consume living human blood, some people with LHD eventually undergo
body modification to sharpen their teeth. However, this eliminates their ability to 'pass' in human society, which comes with its own risks. Very few people can (or even try to) imagine a society that normalizes living with LHD. While major political parties advocate for research funding towards curing LHD,
fringe political groups advocate for extermination of people with LHD.
The general population associates LHD with post-rez symptoms and historical
stereotypes of psychosis, and therefore regard all people with LHD are widely regarded as inherently dangerous and unpredictable, predisposed to violence, abuse, and manipulation. The slur
"necro" makes derogatory reference to the parasitic and supposedly unnatural behaviors and lifestyles of people with LHD. Although LHD is
not infectious, it is often regarded as such because violent acts by people with LHD sometimes trigger the condition in others, giving the impression that they have
"turned" someone.
As a result, people with LHD experience housing, medical, and employment
discrimination that leads to higher rates of depression and anxiety. Most people with LHD are not diagnosed or provided treatment pre-rez. People with LHD who don't experience psychosis or fit the vampire stereotype are regarded as attention-seekers, liars, etc.--even by medical professionals, who may dismiss or minimize their symptoms, or misdiagnose them with autism, PTSD, anemia, or chronic fatigue syndrome. As a result, many people with LHD only learn they have it after they "die," which compounds the traumatic experience of the event.
Despite this, the extended lifespan of people with LHD has led to a number of
wealthy families who secretly live with LHD. They promote cure rhetoric, especially from conservative groups, to amass a fervent following and
political allies. While contributing to the marginalization of people like them, they amass wealth and power with the intention of establishing a
death cult of willing thralls on whom they will be able to feed. One way they do this it by drinking blood from people without LHD and then feeding their own blood to their victims in turn, which establishes a hormone-bond that
enthralls the victim.
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