Have you ever felt completely drained, depleted, and exhausted around a particular person, for no apparent reason?
If so, you may have come across an energy vampire.
And they’re more common than you think.
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Table of contents
What is an Energy Vampire?
An energy vampire is a person who feeds off your emotional or psychic energy. People who display energy vampire traits generally lack empathy, consideration, and/or emotional maturity. As a result of the pain or insecurity they feel inside, energy vampires are addicted to preying on the vitality of others as an attempt to heal their inner suffering.
Essentially, an energy vampire could be anyone such as a friend, family member, colleague, acquaintance, child, son or daughter, or even a romantic partner. If you’re a highly empathetic caring person, it’s also possible to actively attract energy vampires into your life. Unfortunately, if you’re a highly sensitive person who doesn’t know how to set boundaries, it’s quite likely that you’re already surrounded by energy vampires left, right, and center.
Energy vampires are attracted to you because they unconsciously desire to resolve a deeper problem within their psyches — and they perceive YOU as the solution to their problems.
6 Energy Vampire Types
While it’s easy to feel resentful towards energy vampires, it’s important to remember that they haven’t developed the capacity to deal with their issues yet.
Energy vampires prey on others because they are in pain. However, the important thing to remember is that you are NOT responsible for resolving their issues. THEY are responsible for sorting out their struggles.
Often, an energy vampire leaves us feeling so drained that we are incapable of taking care of ourselves. As a result of constantly interacting with an energy vampire, we might feel chronically fatigued, depressed, anxious, irritable or angry.
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It’s vital that you learn how to “draw the line” and set boundaries around these types of people. Without learning how to identify the different types of energy vampires in your life, it can be difficult for you to practice self-nurturing and assertiveness.
Here are the six main energy vampire types out there:
1. The Victim or Martyr Vampire
Victim or Martyr Vampires prey off your guilt. Victims/Martyrs believe that they are “at the mercy” of the world and suffer primarily due to other people. Instead of taking self-responsibility for their lives, Victim/Martyr Vampires continually blame, manipulate, and emotionally blackmail others. The dysfunctional behavior of the Victim/Martyr Vampire is due to their extremely low self-esteem. As their issues most likely stem from a lack of love, validation, and approval as children, Victim/Martyr Vampires feel fundamentally unworthy and unacceptable – and they try to resolve this pain by underhandedly gaining sympathy/empathy from you by making you feel guilty.
How to nurture your energy: When you’re around a Victim/Martyr Vampire, be aware of their self-pity cues. For example, a self-pity cue could be the person’s tendency to blame another person for their suffering, or perhaps a description of how terrible their day has been. Don’t get involved in their self-pity. Limit your interaction with them if possible.
2. The Narcissist Vampire
A Narcissist Energy Vampire has no capacity to show empathy or genuine interest toward other people. Narcissist Vampires carry the unconscious philosophy of “ME first, YOU second.” Therefore, Narcissist Vampires will constantly expect you to put them first, feed their egos, and do what they say – no matter what. Narcissist Vampires will also manipulate you with false charm, but will just as quickly turn around and stab you in the back when the fancy strikes them. If you have a Narcissist Vampire in your life, you might feel a sense of extreme disempowerment as you feel crushed beneath their limelight and self-absorption.
How to nurture your energy: If you’re unable to cut away this person from your life right now, try to limit contact. You could also show the Narcissistic Vampire how your requests satisfy their self-interest, particularly if you’re in a working relationship.
3. The Dominator Vampire
Dominator Vampires love to feel superior and like “alpha” males or females. Due to their deep inner insecurities of being “weak” or “wrong” (and therefore hurt), Dominator Vampires must overcompensate by intimidating you. Often Dominator Vampires are loud-mouthed types of people who have rigid beliefs and black-and-white perceptions of the world. They are often racist, sexist, homophobic, and/or bigoted.
How to nurture your energy: Agree to disagree. Practice calm assertiveness when necessary and limit your contact with Dominator Vampires. Realize that their attempt to scare you is sourced from their deep fear of being dominated and thus hurt.
4. The Melodramatic Vampire
The Melodramatic Energy Vampire thrives on creating problems. Often, their need to create constant drama is the product of a dark underlying emptiness in their lives. Melodramatic Vampires also love seeking out crises because it gives them a reason to feel victimized (thus special and in need of love), an exaggerated sense of self-importance, and avoidance from life’s real issues. Another reason why Melodramatic Vampires enjoy creating drama is that the negative emotions that they feed off are addictive (such as anger).
How to nurture your energy: Refuse to take sides or be involved in the Melodramatic Vampire’s pot-stirring. Pay attention to the patterns in their behavior and the triggers that make you want to get involved. Create distance and remove them from your life if possible.
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5. The Judgmental Vampire
Due to their severely low self-worth, the Judgmental Energy Vampire loves to pick on other people. Their treatment of others is merely a reflection of how they treat themselves. Judgmental Vampires enjoy preying on your insecurities and bolstering their egos by making you feel small, pathetic, or ashamed.
How to nurture your energy: Remember that true self-worth must come from within. Refuse to take what the Judgmental Vampire says personally. Be aware of their deeper pain and their need to feel good about themselves. When you get defensive, you lose. Keep a balanced head, and try being sweet to them (that really throws them off balance!). Reduce, or cut off contact with them if possible.
6. The Innocent Vampire
Energy Vampires aren’t always malicious, as is the case with Innocent Vampires. Sometimes they can be helpless types of people who genuinely need help such as children or good friends who come to rely on you too much. It’s wonderful to help those you care about, but it’s also important that you encourage them to be self-sufficient. Playing the role of the constant “rock” or support will eventually erode your energy. As a result, you’ll have little energy to support yourself.
How to nurture your energy: Helping those in need is a display of compassion and love, but you also need to remember to love yourself. Gently remind the Innocent Vampire in your life that you need time to yourself as well. Encourage them to develop strength, fortitude, and resilience so that you can remove the role of constant caretaker or giver.
How to Identify the Energy Vampire
So how can you know whether you’re dealing with an energy vampire or not? You’ll likely experience feeling:
- Overwhelmed
- Stressed
- Physically ill (e.g., headaches, body aches, etc.)
- Mentally or physically exhausted
- Irritable and/or anxious
You may notice that most Energy Vampires display many of the following characteristics:
- Big ego, e.g., loves to debate, argue, and pick fights
- Aggressive or passive-aggressive tendencies
- Paranoia
- Resentment and anger issues
- Narcissism
- Melodramatic behavior
- Whining and complaining
- Bitching and gossiping
- Insecurity, e.g., the constant need for reassurance and acceptance.
- Manipulative behaviors, e.g., guilt-tripping, emotional blackmail, etc.
- Jealousy
Energy vampires tend to take more than give. They use others for their own means without really considering how the other person is feeling.
It’s also important to understand that Energy Vampires are not always necessarily human beings. They can also be situations or even physical objects in your life. Examples include:
- The internet
- The TV
- Other electronic devices (e.g., the radio, mobile phone, etc.)
- Public situations (e.g., crowds, parties, train stations, shopping centers, etc.)
- Animals (e.g., neurotic pets)
When all is said and done, however, the hardest Energy Vampires to handle are those within your own family or friendship circle. How can we regain our vitality in such energy-sucking relationships?
10 Ways to Cope With Energy Vampires
Here are some empowering way to handle Energy Vampires:
1. Stop making prolonged eye-contact
One of the biggest energy absorbers out there is eye contact. The more eye-contact you make, the more you engage with the other person and what they have to say. Only occasional eye-contact is necessary with Energy Vampires, otherwise, you’re giving them direct access to one of your most precious and limited resources (energy).
2. Set a time limit
Your time is precious as well, and it’s not necessary for you to sit around for 1 or 2 hours having your energy zapped and brain numbed. According to your energy level, set a limit of 5, 10, 15, 20 minutes where you can give your focus to the person, and no more.
3. Learn not to react
This is crucial. The Energy Vampire feeds off your reactions, fueling them to continue interacting with you. It’s important for you to learn how to be neutral in your interactions with EV’s, meaning that you should carefully monitor how you feel and prevent yourself from expressing overly positive or negative emotions. Too much emotion will let them sink their fangs into you even more (it’s irresistible). Learning not to react is also known as the grey rock method in which you make yourself so boring and uninteresting that the other person loses interest in you.
4. Learn not to argue or contradict
Yes, it’s tempting, but in the long run, you can’t change other people unless they change themselves first. The more you resist them, the more they will resist (and drain) you.
5. Go with other people
Approaching the Energy Vampire with 1, 2 or 3 other people will provide a powerful buffer and reduce the amount of energy that will be drained from you. For this trick to work, you need to ensure that the additional people aren’t psychic leeches either.
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6. Listen more than talk
A lot of the time Energy Vampires simply want and need a listening ear. The more you talk, the more energy you tend to lose (especially if you’re introverted). Using short words/questions such as “why?” “when?” and “how?” will encourage the EV to do most of the talking, which in turn will help preserve your energy.
7. Try sticking to light-hearted topics
Your conversations don’t need to be depressive and oppressive. Take control when necessary and change the topic of conversation to something more light and simple.
8. Visualize
Many people claim that visualizing protective light/energy shields around them helps to deflect psychic fatigue, and maintain a neutral and calm state of mind. Try it some time and see how it impacts your mental and emotional wellbeing.
9. Avoid when possible
Although not always possible, avoiding the energy vampire is a simple and straightforward technique to assist in your self-preservation. I don’t recommend avoidance as a consistent solution, as the less you come in contact with the Vampire/s the less opportunity you’ll have to develop and put into practice useful and necessary life skills (like assertiveness and creating personal boundaries).
10. Cut off contact
This is the last resort. Sometimes for your own health and happiness, you need to make difficult decisions regarding who you choose to surround yourself with. In the end, if you continue to suffer, the best option may be to simply cut ties and move on.
Showing Compassion to Energy Vampires
Let’s face it: there’s a lot of harsh information out there condemning Energy Vampires. Yes, it’s true that they’re tiring, annoying, and sometimes clearly narcissistic – but not all of them have bad intentions.
Sometimes, Energy Vampires are simply well-meaning and normal people who are overbearing and starved for love, affection, attention, and validation.
In fact, sometimes we may be Energy Vampires to other people without even knowing it!
So let’s be kind toward ourselves and others, but draw clear boundaries. There’s nothing more energy-draining than secretly hating or resenting a person. In the interest of our own vitality and wellbeing, let’s try to see beyond the immediate behavior and understand that most Energy Vampires are in some sort of pain. Why else would they desperately be seeking out others to unconsciously “feed off”?
What to Do if You’re the Energy Vampire
If people consistently complain that you’re too overwhelming, intense, demanding, or overbearing – you might be moving into the Energy Vampire role.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to be hard on yourself. Sometimes stress, mental health issues, core wounds, and inner traumas cause us to behave in ways that repel other people unknowingly.
Here’s what to do if you’re the Energy Vampire:
- Spend some time thinking about how you interact with others. Do you give more than take? Do you allow others to talk about themselves? Is there equality in the conversation? If not, and if you find that you’re hogging most of the attention, find ways to show interest in others. Remember, people take more interest in you if you take more interest in them. Be curious and ask questions. Be open to learning something new about others.
- Practice self-care. Assess how you’re feeling during the day and tune into your emotional needs. Are you feeling stressed or lonely? Make a soothing cup of tea or cuddle a pet or loved one. See our self-care article for more in-depth guidance.
- Make self-love a philosophy and habit. While self-care is the practical side of things, self-love is the philosophical and emotional side of things. What is your relationship with yourself like? Do you treat yourself with self-respect and compassion? Or are you brutal and critical? The more love you can show toward yourself, the less you’ll need to desperately try to gain that from others. In fact, the more self-love you develop, the more others will enjoy spending time around you as they’ll sense that you don’t want to take something from them, but instead simply want to be with them. See our guide on how to love yourself for more help.
- Reach out to a counselor or therapist. Energy Vampires often have a desperate need to be seen, heard, validated, and supported. The best place to do this in a healthy and constructive way (that focuses exclusively on you without being detrimental) is in a therapeutic setting. There is so much psychological guidance available these days that you have a plethora of options to choose from. If you can’t make it to a counselor physically you can always try having an online Skype session.
- Do some inner work. Other than self-love, it’s also important that you work to heal your inner child and embrace your shadow self (the dark side of your nature). Doing this kind of deep inner excavation will help you to get to the root of the wounds and beliefs that cause you to act as an Energy Vampire. Read more about inner work to get started.
Be gentle with yourself and understand that growing out of the Energy Vampire habit is a journey. With dedication and persistence, you will find ways to nourish yourself instead of trying to absorb that from others.
***
At a sub-atomic level, all that exists in life is composed of vibrating atoms or pure energy. Even incorporeal things such as our thoughts, emotions, instincts, and sexual drives can be said to be composed of energy. Thus, we live in an ocean of motion, and like in the ocean – or any environment on earth for that matter – there are both predators and prey.
If you find yourself slipping into the role of prey, just know that there are strategies you can use to set clear boundaries and protect your energy.
On the other hand, if you find yourself in the role of predator (or Energy Vampire), be gentle with yourself and understand that such behavior is a result of unresolved inner pain and the need to desperately be seen. You can develop self-love to counteract this.
What are your experiences with energy vampires? And if you’re an energy vampire, what do you think motivates your behavior? I’d love to hear below.
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Hey there, i’m new to this, but I really liked what i read on the article here. It’s an interesting perspective, identifying certain people as energy vampires..I’ve never thought about it like that before. Something i’m sort of wondering though is; am I myself an energy vampire? Based on what i’ve read, it would seem that I do have some traits of a vamp, but at the same time I have so many of the opposite traits too. Being a Highly Sensitive Person, I pick up on a lot of things that most others do not. To sort of portray what i’m thinking about, let me offer an example.
I live with my brother, in an apartment. We live in the same home, but have two very different lives. We have the same blood, but are so undeniably opposites of each other. He is a very lazy/lethargic (and i say that without personal bias), Very unmotivated, Very careless (in a highly absent-minded way – he forgets almost everything a person tells him), Very obsessive (he’s been listening to the same, limited amount of music since high school, he’s now almost 25 years old), and above all else, Extremely impulsive (He rarely ever thinks before or as he acts, and overlooks even the simplest things). He often asks me for help or my personal opinion with certain things because i’m vastly more knowledgable than he is in most things (in relation to life choices, benefits of health and wellness, technology based issues, or even the trivial things like how to properly cook rice..).
The issue that I have with this is not that he asks for my help or counsel, it’s that he never makes an effort to learn or do certain things on his own, and often ends up neglecting important things. And whenever i do provide assistance with something, it’s my goal not only to help him accomplish his goals, but to educate him in the matters of those things so that he can think for himself and not depend on myself or others so much. I have explicitly explained the same concepts to him more than 3 or 4 times on several different occasions, and he says he understands, but then asks me about it again later.. It’s as if literally nothing i say ever gets through to his brain. I often get frustrated with him because of this and end up either lecturing him or having some sort of argument/disagreement. I’ve been trying to disengage my feelings of anger towards his careless nature, but it’s just so hard for me when I have to deal with it all the time. I only have his best interests in mind when i try to assist him, but it’s getting to the point where I feel like i’m trying to tell him how to live his life..or that i’m his babysitter. He’s the type of kid who puts his hand on the stove element twice even though it burnt him the first time.
i’m beginning to resent him for what i perceive as ignorance, carelessness, and at times, just plain stupidity. I feel like i have almost no respect left for him at all. He’s also very stubborn and unwilling to change his ways..but he’s the passive type of person. I don’t want to ultimately try and change who he is, I just try to look out for him. And I do end up preventing him from making a lot of bad mistakes. But sometimes i feel like i’m overbearing, and my efforts are fruitless. Am I an energy vampire for lashing out at him? or is he an energy vampire for constantly draining my patience? (it’s also worth mentioning that i’m 4 years younger than him). Any feedback would be appreciated.
Grave, I don’t think it’s necessarily a question of “who is the energy vampire” here, I think it’s instead a question of “why can’t your brother take responsibility for himself?”
You seem to be acting as his make-do mother, which reveals a lot of immaturity on his side, or perhaps fear about making adult decisions in life. Have you heard of the idea of Soul Ages? https://lonerwolf.com/soul-age/ He might be a Teenager soul, perhaps even Infant. Regardless of his behavior, there is usually a deeper element to someones lack of motivation and carelessness. You mention that he is obsessive and has been listening to the same type of music since highschool. That sounds like safety seeking behavior to me, or, neuroticism. Your brother may not like to admit it, but he’s most likely dealing with a lot of anxiety at an unconscious level about life. Most likely he lacks motivation because he lacks direction, and that could be due to not having enough insight about himself, or having too much fear of failure and judgement to do what he really wants.
Sometimes you just need to take a step back from the people you constantly surround yourself with. People are very rarely two dimensional, and there is almost always a deeper reason why they are the way they are.
I’m not intending to create offense, but the way you speak about him sounds like a mother’s frustration. Perhaps withdraw your concern and assistance for a few weeks, and see what his reaction is, if any? I predict he will react in some way, and his reaction will give you a key to figuring out who he is and why he does what he does.
~Luna
Thank you very much for the reply, Luna. You’ve made many good points about his behaviour, some of which i had not considered before. I know there is a deeper reason for what he does, and i think i understand it too. I just don’t agree with it. I’ve read up on the soul ages concepts, and a lot of it does make sense. I think he would definitely be somewhere between an infant and a baby soul, it would explain his simplistic nature. And I myself consist mostly of a mature soul, with some elements of a young soul. I think the fact that I care too much about people sometimes is often the root of my frustrations, like a mother’s usually is. I’ve been considering the thought of putting a bit of distance between myself and him, just to see what happens, and now I think I definitely will. I know It’s not up to me to give him direction..it’s something everyone needs to find on their own, within themselves. I guess it’s just that sensitive nature of mine that needs a bit of taming, or discipline. Usually I don’t go seeking the counsel of others for matters like this, but sometimes I feel like i’m stuck in my own head a bit too much. It’s actually nice to have an outsider’s perspective once in a while..it’s like a breath a fresh air. I very much appreciate your input here, and I think it’s really admirable that you’re willing to reach out to a complete stranger like myself. I get a good vibe from you, maybe i’ll stick around a bit longer. :)
My pleasure Grave. I would be interested to know how this experiment of yours goes. I’m sure something will happen, and this will be the best opportunity for you to truly understand your brother. Sometimes taking a step back from people for a few days or weeks helps to clear the mind, giving better mental clarity.
I’m glad to know that you’ll be sticking around, and hopefully I’ll hear more of your thoughts and experiences on future articles!
Well, it’s now been just over 3 weeks since I tried this new approach, and a few notable things did happen.
For him; He didn’t seem to take any notice of me completely changing my attitude towards him, or at least he didn’t react to it. He still did things the same ways, day in and day out. And for some reason he started buying and drinking alcohol somewhat excessively all of a sudden, whereas before he would hardly ever buy any. I think it’s because he’s stressed about work and unable to cope with certain things and people. Taking this step back made it much more clear to me that he’s very weak and/or unstable mentally and emotionally, even more so than I had anticipated before. So because of this, I’ve begun to put the brakes on certain impulses within myself, and even catching them before they get out of my control; the ones that are the most reactive, things like frustration and anger, or just disappointment in general.
For me; I think I’ve realized that he has nowhere near the level of soul strength or maturity that I possess, and because of that I believe I shouldn’t impose the same expectations on him that I have of myself. He has a ton of learning to do before he gets anywhere near my level. Just observing him has made it clear that he’s very much lacking in self confidence, and that in itself is detrimental to progression. Instead of trying to force him to change, I’m just letting life sort him out. So I guess it’s a way of saying that my standards for him have dropped much lower, and the result is that I am becoming much less stressed out. I also sort of figured within this same thought that to do otherwise is basically setting myself up for more upsets, and nothing that I’ve done in the past has helped in changing it from happening, simply because he never learns. It’s going to keep happening over and over again until HE decides to change. So until then, I’m just going to let it be, keep my distance, and focus on myself. I think it’s what I needed all along.
This was definitely a good exercise for me, and I’m going to try to keep in mind what I learned from it for the future. Patience and Awareness are two things that this exercise refreshed me of, and I’m going to continue to work on them within myself.
Thanks again Luna, Every bit is appreciated.
Thanks for letting me know how this experiment went Grave!
It is refreshing to read your new, much clearer, perspective on your brother. In the mean time, you have experienced the added benefit of less stress! This is because you are no longer resisting your brother, but giving him the space to be the person he needs to be now, and to learn the lessons he needs to learn. Imposing or forcing anything onto another does nothing but repel them – it is counterproductive to creating long lasting meaningful change in their lives.
Even though you are at a higher level soul wise and maturity wise, you also have a long way to go, as we all do, and still have lessons to learn as your brother does, which is humbling to know. You are both on the same path, just at different places.
So for now I hope that you are able to keep incorporating this new found patience and awareness into your life! All the best :)
I was in a situation with a person almost exactly like your brother. As it turns out, he was a disgnosed sociopath, which I confirmed. He is no longer in my life after unmentionable devastation in all areas. I encourage you to read Martha Stouts books and consult the Hare diagnostic.
I’m in that messed up situation, that I’m renting a room in a friends apartment. However, this friend is without a doubt an Energy Vampyre. Every time I’m trying to be happy, she has something to complain about. And when I leave her be for awhile, a week or two, just minimum contact, she’s all nice and ask if we should go eat something, the kicker here is, that once we leave the house and start walking, she starts complaining about something in her life and sometimes, she feels she has to lecture me about “how I can feel better and get a better life and be happy etc. ” The funny thing is, as I said earlier, when I am happy, she does her best to mess up my mood. Plus, she’s narcissistic, loves to pick fights, huge ego and “better knowing” (I put that one, because when you tell people “how” or “why” then should/nt live their life in a certain way, you’re sucking their energy).
Yet… I only know one way to escape her “fangs” and that’s moving out. Though, I don’t have money for the deposit for my own place, so I’m stuck here til I figure something out
Ugh Henrik, there’s nothing worse than having a person preach to you who doesn’t actually walk the walk, and live by their own words. The truth is, this woman probably suffers a lot due to her lack of self-awareness, so it’s also good to learn how to forgive and develop compassion (although I admit it’s very difficult to develop at first).
Perhaps consider doing things with her that don’t require too much talking, e.g. watching a movie, or playing video games, etc. You could also let her know that you will be busy with a project/study of some sort, to forewarn her that you won’t be able to spend as much time in her presence. This will remove any suspicion that you dislike being around her by providing an alibi for being “busy”.
The truth is, you can’t change anyone unless they choose to first change themselves, so there’s no point in setting out to change her ways. Only yours.
I hope something I’ve said is useful!
Thanks for the reply, Luna :)
I have no problem forgiving and accepting people for who they are, and most importantly, I’m not trying to change them either. I just choose to distant myself from the ones who aren’t good my own well-being :)
And clearly this girl is not good for my spiritual growth at this moment. Still trying to find my inner-self.
I literally receded several inches from my computer as I read some of the comments from readers below. I could almost feel their fangs trying to rip you apart. This article (Energy Vampires) and my reaction to the comments has brought me to the understanding of the necessity to distinguish between “explaining” our thoughts, actions or intentions and “justifying” them. Explaining ourselves is a more logical process from which we can be emotionally detached, but justifying ourselves (as often required by vampires in an attempt to sway us into their field) robs us of our true essence and leaves us vulnerable and depleted. Thank you Aletheia for the inspiration and moments of reflection your articles bring.
Haha, thank you Catherine. It seems that different types of people have different types of perceptions and beliefs regarding the topic, but in the end the wisest approach is to take a step back and observe the situation with emotional detachment.
I’m happy to have delivered something you ultimately found useful and insightful (mission accomplished!)
Warmly,
~Luna
Thank you for this information, these reminders are so important!
Also, I appreciate reading articles that have a positive approach on the topic, as this one.
The advised techniques are definitely great ones
That means a lot to me – thank you for reading and commenting here Miriam. :)
-Luna
Thank you for this article. I have worked with someone for 5 years like this. She is also my supervisor, which I think makes it a little bit tougher in some ways. But finally, 2 higher-up positions in our office, previously held by men, have now been replaced with 2 wise women, who observed what was happening and have been helping me. This “energy vampire” is very crafty, using all the techniques in your article, but under a huge disguise, a “sweetened” hostility, that I did not understand, until now. Now that she is exposed, I am putting into full practice the not reacting, not engaging, not feeling the need to defend myself, and not falling for the guilt-traps – basically looking out for and trying to protect myself. This has caused her hostility to be raised to an all-point high, but ironically, I feel more powerful against her now than ever before. I have to work in a small area with her every day. Besides the white light visualization and protective shields, is there anything else I can do for protection? Thank you so much for your help.
BCJJ, I’m really happy that this article could help in some way. Other techniques you could use include focusing on your breathing to centre yourself, focusing your mind on something that makes you symbolically feel good (e.g. butterfly’s, chocolate ice-cream, pink roses), and practising meditation. Meditation doesn’t just need to be sitting down and staring at a candle, you can also achieve meditative states through repetitive work such as crocheting, painting, jogging, bicycle riding etc. The point is to give your mind a break. Some people also believe in the power of protective amulets (usually crystals or certain objects) which help dispel harm.
I hope some of these suggestions help! All the best,
-Luna
I found this article very one-sided and extremely judgmental of individuals who are psychic vampires. What a negative view on this subject! Most psychic vampires, or “leeches” and “parasites” as so nastily referred to, are individuals who can’t help being the way they are. I refer to this description in one of your links: “Whatever form they take, energy vampires have one thing in common: They cannot create or sustain their own life force in any positive manner. So they latch on and feed off on others, slowly sucking the life out of them.”
Normal, well-meaning individuals? It seems this article, and both articles in the links provided, do nothing but look down upon “Energy Vampires”, or whatever term you choose to use.
I am guessing you’ve never had a real conversation with a vamp, because if you had, you would know the pain and suffering these individuals go through on a daily basis. Constant fatigue, lack of energy, constant hunger and cravings which no food can satisfy, depression and loneliness, just to name a few!
Yes some are manipulative by nature, but that’s exactly that! Their nature which they cannot change. You make it out like they are all nasty, evil beings, sucking the life out of “poor victims” on purpose, simply for fun or pleasure.
I challenge you to do some actual research on psychic vampires and write an article on how to help them cope with being who and what they are. There are always two sides to every story. Btw, I know vamps who are also Empaths. Vampirism and Empathy seem to go hand in hand. In most cases, it is the vampires who are the “victims”! Victims of not being able to produce enough energy to sustain them, live full and healthy lives, and not have to partake in these “life sucking” behaviors mentioned. Most do not want to bring harm to others on purpose, a lot of feeding happens subconsciously, and is very hard to control!
Hello Scarlett,
Thank you for providing some of your views regarding Energy Vampires.
You wrote the following sentence: “Most psychic vampires, or “leeches” and “parasites” as so nastily referred to, are individuals who can’t help being the way they are. ”
Not necessarily. While some people are victims of whatever biological complexes they possess, others are responsible for the behaviors they exhibit. As I mentioned in the article above, most Energy Vampires are people who: chronically manipulate others, are melodramatic, incessantly complain, gossip, pick fights, show passive or aggressive behavior, and so forth. Most of these symptoms can be dealt with by a person. It doesn’t make sense to say that these people are “victims” of the sickly behaviors they exhibit. Without taking responsibility for yourself and your actions you become simply that, a self-pitying victim.
I’ve come in contact with many Energy Vampires through the years: some that I have lived with for long term periods, others were simply work colleagues or acquaintances. Whatever the person, in the majority of instances the Energy Vampire that I came across would show the symptoms defined in this article. Of course, it’s good to show compassion to all people regardless of who they are, which is why I mentioned in the article that lending a listening ear to these people is sometimes all they need. However, life is about self-preservation, and so is this article.
-Luna
Thanks for your response. Perhaps not using the terms “psychic” and “energy” vampires as the same thing would help differentiate between the people you speak of who manipulate others for personal gain, and those “victims of whatever biological complexes they possess”. I have found that they are two entirely different things. I understand that life is about self-preservation, as you said, and am not in any way defending manipulating or draining behaviours done purposely. My ex-stepfather showed all the behaviours you listed, however I’d classify him as a sociopath (or something along those lines) rather than an “Energy Vampire”. Maybe this is just my personal experience however and varies from person to person. Real Psychic Vampires that I’ve encountered in my time, possess a lot of psychic type traits, are usually very intuned with energy, empathic, and don’t go around “draining victims” on purpose. It is one thing to be a sociopathic, manipulative-type person (with zero to very little psychic abilities or even knowledge or awareness of energy manipulation) to being what I would call a True Psychic Vampire. Just my opinion. I’d like the add that the word “vampire” gets thrown around a lot these days and in the end loses it’s original or true meaning. Thank you for reading.
Thanks Scarlett.
Psychic fatigue, as referred to in the title of this article, is a more interesting way of saying “mental” fatigue, as psychic can also refer to the mind. In my own experience, psychic vampires are not necessarily in-tune with energy, but unconsciously and unknowingly drain the people they interact with.
In the end, our definitions are biased and formed by our own individual experiences. So while one person may argue that the Energy Vampire is this, another may argue that the Energy Vampire is that. That is why I’m not claiming that my definition of the Energy Vampire is true or correct universally, because each person varies in their own experience. But for those who do share the same definition, experiences or perspectives, this article will be a useful tool to them.
So thank you for sharing your own perception. All the best,
-Luna
Sorry but people like you bring the whole concept of psychic ability into disrepute.
I note you call yourself a visionary! Why? All I see is the same old claptrap of yesteryear wrapped up in new gaudy wrapping
Hello Robert.
The word “psychic” can refer to both a person who considers themselves to possess supernatural powers, as well as referring to the mind. In this case, the above article refers to the mind. But of course, you would have realized this if you had taken the time to actually read it. Additionally, I don’t consider myself to have any phenomenal powers of any kind. When I identify myself as a visionary, I refer to my ability to be creative, imaginative and innovative, and not any ability to see into the future.
Seems as though your hatred for the supernatural has blinded you to the true meanings behind what I write and do. How unfortunate.
-Luna
Hi does he have a diagnosis for ADHD? It sounds very much like the condition, failing that did anything traumatic happen to him, sometimes trauma is repressed and acts out in odd ways, lack of focus, daydreaming, alcohol, addictions, legarghy, die to depression and lack of direction. Not a medical doctor, but just some suggestions.
Hi Altheia Luna,
I read your article on “Energy Vampires” and must say I can directly relate.
I am a pediatric home health nurse and recently came across the most disturbing
energies in one of the houses I was working.
Your description of an Energy Vampires characteristics described every
trait I came across in this home from the mother.
Instinctively I tried not to react myself in this situation but the one day I did
the energies increased to the point where I thought I would shatter.
You are right about the eye contact and changing the subject to a light hearted one.
Through this experience I had at this home I discovered about Empaths.
I now realize I am and always have been an Empath.
If it had not been for this home I was at I may have never truly understood
or researched Empaths.
I have a new way of looking at life now but have a long way to go.
All I can say is God uses every situation for our growth.
Glad I found your website!
Peace and Blessings,
Audrey
Hi there Audrey. Thank you for sharing such a haunting experience with us here.
I hope the suggestions in this article help to assist you in your work in the future.
All the very best,
-Luna
I just want to say thank you for existing and helping individuals in their own journey to self growth and discovery. It helps a lot to know that individuals are not alone and putting thoughts and realisations into words where we can easily comprehend it is really very helpful. Just want to say Thank You, that’s all. :)
JJ, that is very kind of you, and I want to thank you for brightening my day that little bit more.
It’s wonderful to know that this article could have such an important impact on a person. This is all I could really ask for.
Many thanks again,
-Luna
Both of my parents fit the mold of an energy vampire, but for different reasons. My mom is very neurotic and paranoid, and her view of the world is quite distorted. Unfortunately, she’s also a validation-seeker, needing others to agree with her cockeyed perspective. Basically, she’s an energy draining vortex. I try to visit her as little as possible, but when I must spend time with her, I make an effort not to indulge her paranoia or emotional neediness. I just let her ramble while I half-listen without getting emotionally hooked by her words.
My dad (now gone) was a mentally lazy, indolent person who would rather let someone else do all the psychological heavy lifting. Instead of learning or remembering things, he would try to foist those responsibilities on me. He didn’t want to expend the energy to adapt, which made being around him feel like carrying around a dead weight. And after my mom left him, he never made an effort to create new relationships in his life, instead relying on me (his only child) for his only source of love in the entire world. I resented him terribly for putting me in this position. When he died last year, it was like I drew a “Get Out Of Jail Free” card. He was siphoning so much energy from me, and what a relief it’s been to reclaim some of it.
There are a handful of things in life that are preciously important to me. I won’t let my family come near those things, because I want to enjoy them with my full heart and spirit.
Red, it’s unfortunate that our families can be the sources of such great ills in our lives. I’ve never agreed with the “blood is thicker than water” rubbish which people spout all the time (including my own family). Yet unfortunately, many people are conditioned since childhood with the idea that you must stick by your family no matter what – no matter how psychologically draining, emotionally manipulative, or self-destructive. It’s amazing how much such a small idea can completely pervade and control the lives of people.
I’m happy that you are conscious of this!
Thank you for being the first person to comment here. I appreciate your thoughts and the experiences you’ve shared on this topic!
-Luna
If anything, I believe we should be LESS beholden to our families than to other important people in our lives, for the simple reason that nobody gets to choose their family. We pick our friends, we pick our spouses, we pick our communities; we have these people in our lives because we want them around. Conversely, we inherit our families, whether we like them or not, even if their presence slowly destroys us. It’s the equivalent of being infected with a disease and society telling us we’re not allowed to find a cure.
My definition of family: a circle of people who mutually promote each other’s spiritual growth (sharing genes not necessary).
Luna, I want to offer a heartfelt thank you to both you and Sol for continuing to build the LonerWolf community. It’s amazing how much connection we can feel with people on the other side of the world!