Energy vampires are people who drain your emotional energy. Sometimes it’s intentional and sometimes it’s not. Either way, you’re left feeling exhausted and overwhelmed as they feed on your willingness to listen and care for them.
Energy vampires can be anyone – your neighbor, friend, coworker or spouse. By learning how to identify and respond to this behavior, you can protect yourself and preserve your energy for more important things.
Let’s explore some of the signs of an energy vampire and tips for responding to this type of behavior. If you’re still unsure, contact Jack Rourke for a psychic reading. Jack can help you uncover your feelings and find a way forward.
Signs You’re Dealing with an Energy Vampire
You might think that energy vampires are easy to spot, but they’re actually quite clever and charming. This allows them to avoid trouble while still getting the attention they crave. Here are some of the ways that energy vampires act:
- They don’t take accountability – they let others carry the guilt instead
- They use guilt trips or ultimatums to get what they want
- They’re always involved in some type of drama, though they often claim that the “drama follows them”
- They try to one-up you because they don’t like sharing the spotlight
- They diminish your problems and make their own sound worse
- They crave emotional support to boost their self-esteem
Bottom line: Energy vampires demand a lot from their relationships. You might think that they’re just needy or that you’re the only one giving them support, but these relationships will end up sapping your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual energy.
How to Deal with an Energy Vampire in Your Life
If you let people drain your resources, you’ll end up cheating yourself out of time, energy and happiness. People who have these types of relationships are also more likely to suffer from heart disease, anxiety and depression. You need to take steps that will protect these resources.
While not all of these strategies will work for everyone, they’re a place to start. For more personalized solutions, schedule a psychic reading with Jack Rourke.
- Establish boundaries. You don’t need to spend extended time with an energy vampire. Limit your interactions with them. You can start small and expand. For example, decline coffee dates or weekend trips.
- Be firm about what you can do. When you can’t do something, be firm: “I’m busy” or “I’m tired” is enough. You don’t need to explain or defend what you do with your time.
- Adjust your expectations. You can’t change an energy vampire but you can adjust your expectations. For instance, you don’t have to offer them advice. But on the flip side, don’t look to them for emotional release either.
- Reserve your energy. Offer short responses and learn to tame your nonverbal cues. If the energy vampire feels like you’re interested, they’ll use it to their advantage.
Depending on who the emotional vampire is, you may not be able to cut them out of your life completely. But you can make changes that will allow you to be a decent person without letting them deplete your reserves.