When did you realize your hunger?

When did you all first have your first hunger for blood/energy? My thirst has been with me as far back as I remember.

I believe I began to notice the issue of feeling tired and constantly weak. At first, I focused on taking care of the physical and biological aspects but gradually noticed a different energetic need. I won't use the term "hunger," as I don't view it as something leaning towards the fantastical depiction in fiction, where there's a major emphasis on an urgent "need" for energy. Well, for some, that might happen. For others, it may manifest differently. However, what I observe, at least in myself, is that by becoming aware and researching energetic matters, I began to think this could be one of the causes of sensations such as a lack of energetic balance.

As I started to research, study, and, well, move towards an "energetic diet," many things became clearer to me. Therefore, I believe there wouldn’t be a "specific moment" when it comes to "hunger," but rather a period of greater awareness of this need.

I didn't recognize it as a hunger back then, but I have distinct memories during my formative years of noticing the difference between energy flucutations and intake with myself and those around me. Although I was a child, I knew that I was different (in more than one way), and the more I interacted with people, the more that difference became apparent. It wasn't until I was in my early teens that I started feeling the "hunger" and more predatory urges. A lot of which were also blossoming under the framework of my nonhumanity at the same time. Put those two things together and it can lead to some interesting situations for an awkward, teenage nonhuman critter with vampiric needs.

I was pretty lucky to find online communities geared towards vampirism that early, and got my understanding on that front situated quite fast. Although my first mentor was an insufferable person, personality wise, they were very good about instilling in me the correct methods and mindset for taking care of myself energetically. Never struggled past my teens. Getting that situated that early on gave me the rest of those years to grapple with the aforementioned nonhuman experiences. Would've been more of a mess than I already was if I had to contend with both natures simultaneously that way.