Good point. By the way, N. and I apparently have something in common. we both have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I just got my lab results back today - the REALLY good news is that I do not have systemic lupus (which can be fatal as well as annoying, it killed Lorraine Hansberry, author of _A Raisin in the Sun_ and _To Be Young, Gifted, and Black_ before she turned 40) and the semi-bad news is that I've got Epstein-Barr virus and suffer from fatigue. At some point I contracted mononucleosis (glandular fever, to those of you who are Brits) without even knowing I had it - the doctor said it was recent, so I think it was probably this summer, because I was very run-down and could barely take my daily walks without breaking into horse sweat (and oh, yes, the house got very dirty and I didn't get enough reading done, because I was always napping).
Fatigue and stress are NOT minor problems. Never say "oh, it's only stress" or "I'm just tired." Fatigue and stress zorch your immune system, cause nightmares, cause mood disorders, and if prolonged, cause DEATH. Heart attacks, poor/inattentive driving, etc...think about it. And of course, there's always the old cliche about how warriors contract "battle fatigue," AKA "post traumatic stress disorder." Tell veteran that stress is nothing to worry about, I dare you.
Vampires are prone to stress and fatigue disorders because they are like black holes - sucking in massive amounts of energy, then blowing it back out. We're the original "gas guzzlers" - fuel-inefficient in the extreme. We burn out easily. Being told that we're nuts because we think we are vampires doesn't help matters any. Donors are prone to fatigue as well, if they are drained too much or at inopportune times. Donors can also suffer from stress due to empathic links with their vampire contacts.
We should all be practicing basic stress management. Perform yoga or meditation; exercise regularly to work off steam; watch cartoons; whatever. Eat right. Don't live on a diet of caffeine if you are one of the lucky people who can have caffeine without getting migraines. Sleep is also important - get at LEAST six hours of sleep a night if you can, unless you really don't need much sleep. It takes a few hours to hit REM, and people who don't get a chance to dream or have an uninterrupted sleep cycle suffer from fatigue and often delusions. This has been proven in laboratory experiments. It is very important that you allow yourself enough sleep that you actually have dreams. If you are having a problem with nightmares, and wake up in the middle of the night, consider seeing a doctor about it, and do something about the stress in your life - occaisional nightmares are normal, frequent or repeating nightmares are a sure sign of stress. I, for instance, have wedding-related nightmares at least once a week because I'm the primary person in charge of the planning for a large, expensive wedding (and will be changing my marital status in less than two months, ulp!) and it's a stressful situation. I recognize the stress in my life and am trying to find ways to relieve it.
Being under stress or severe fatigue also leaves you open to psychic attack, by the way; most supposed psychic attacks are symptoms of severe stress, but severe stress can make things easy for people who really do want to hex you. The best way to combat psychic attack is to reduce stress, make yourself calm, and get enough rest and eat a good diet. Strengthening your body strengthens your shields, and makes concentration (necessary for visualizing shields or doing protective spells) infinitely easier.
This has been a message from your list Mum. :)