How to recognize and deal with energy vampires

Energy vampires are people who, intentionally or unintentionally, drain your emotional energy. They feed on your willingness to listen to them and take care of them, leaving you exhausted and overwhelmed. They can be anywhere and be anyone: your spouse, your best friend, your roommate, or your neighbor. Learning to identify and respond to this toxic behavior can help you conserve your energy and protect you from a great deal of emotional and physical stress.

They take no responsibility

Energy vampires are often charismatic and can get out of a lot of trouble thanks to this charm. They are cunning and guilty people in almost any situation. They never accept that they can be blamed for something and often take the blame for something they were truly responsible for.

They always make some kind of drama

They are always in the midst of a catastrophe, engaging in emotional and dramatic behaviors. When they are with someone, they throw this drama on the person in hopes that they will absorb it and solve the problem for them.

Energy Vampires always want to outdo you in something

He never likes to be worse than someone else at anything – he doesn’t want to share a spot in the spotlight with anyone. This is one of their many narcissistic tendencies, as they cannot feel genuine happiness for another person. Hence, they prefer to suck in each other’s energy to fuel their emotional demands.

They minimize your problems and only care about theirs.

They feed on your emotional energy, and if you are sad or upset, they have nothing to feed on. So, to suck in more, energy vampires will turn the discussion’s attention to themselves, turning the other’s discouragement reason into something positive, just to show they’re worse off. So they keep feeding on your emotional energy.

They use your qualities against you

Sensitive and compassionate people are the prime targets of energy vampires. If you offer a friendly shoulder, have a kind heart and very positive energy, energy vampires use their own qualities against you, draining your vitality.

Energy vampires are codependent

Codependency is a type of relationship in which each action is designed to provoke a certain reaction in the other individual. It’s a vicious cycle of behavior, but energy vampires rarely recognize they’re in it. They use these relationships – often romantic – to continue generating a cycle of emotional drama and need.

Why is it important to recognize them and what to do next?

Energy vampires demand a lot from the people they target. This continuous drainage can have a big effect on your well-being. Over time, too much stress can lead to anxiety, depression, heart disease, and more. That’s why it’s important to recognize a vampire’s emotional behaviors and then take action. This could mean erecting barriers to protect yourself from an energy vampire or removing the person from your life altogether. Try the following ideas until you feel in control and protected.

set limits

While this may be easier said than done, you can and should establish areas in your life that you will not allow an energy vampire to enter. Don’t accept invitations to social events such as dinners or coffee gatherings. Avoid weekend trips and other extended events where they will be featured.

At work, you can limit the interactions between the two of you by not joining them for lunch and not stopping at their table to chat. You may need to start small, focusing only on a few areas, then expand the boundaries.

Change your behavior towards them

You can’t change a vampire’s energy, but you can change what you do about it. This can result in emotional closure and not offering advice when they vent their problems on you.

Finding excuses for energy vampires

If the energy vampire calls or texts, pay no attention. Find an excuse, such as “I’m too tired” or “I’m too busy”. You can also say that you have plans or that you are not feeling well. When they keep pushing but don’t get the emotional energy they need, they go away and look for it in someone else.

Source: Terra

Benjamin

Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.