Energy vampires drain your energy and are not always easy to spot. The obvious ones are those who are just damaging all the time—those who constantly complain and are in a depressed mood.

Then some are more subtle. The so-called “intelligent” energy vampires. They are the ones who drain people without people knowing about it. They are the ones who start positively in a social group since this is viewed as socially accepted.

After 30-40 minutes, the conversation that started positively becomes gradually more hostile. Since this is happening so gradually, nobody understands what is happening.

The energic vampire will gain energy from this. It will smile at the vampire to know that others are feeling weak. The end goal is to be better than other people. Not only be better but also tear others down at the same time.

So they use every trick in the book to get people out of state. They can subtly express passive-aggressive behaviour, so people don’t notice the anger inside them. They can use words and language that are negatively loaded and triggers people. Sometimes they will also argue against their own opinions to confuse you. Frame your words and opinions differently than you meant them to be!

Also, they tend to communicate what is complex and problematic instead of looking for solutions. They don’t cheer you up; instead, these people say you won’t make it; whatever you want to accomplish is impossible. They don’t recognize your good qualities or goals; they ignore them. Energy thieves don’t laugh at your jokes. They can talk in riddles to make you feel dumb, stubborn, or sarcastic, making you insecure. Sometimes they will flip between approval and disapproval so that you “crave” their attention. They can sometimes be super friendly, so fill up your cup to take energy from you later. 

To summarize – they don’t energize you; they take your energy away. And they find pleasure in manipulating your emotions and weak spots. These are the energy vampires among us. We use the word energy vampire because it is a general term that addresses all types of manipulation. The common theme is that they want to be better than you and say and do things that drain your energy and confidence in yourself. 

You protect yourself by crossing your arm and legs while they talk. Another trick is to visualize a bubble around you, a strong aura, to protect you. And, of course, setting boundaries and just avoiding them. Then you need to focus on what gives YOU joy and put your eyes on the prize, Meaning go after the things that give you joy, laughter, and happiness in life.