Who are energy vampires? If you ever felt like all your energy has been drained from you after spending time with a certain individual, that could be a clear indicator that they are an ‘energy vampire’.
This term is used to describe people who use up all your energy and give nothing in return. You feel tired and lifeless after spending time with them. However, some ‘energy vampires’ do not appear like that, and they take your energy in a subtle way.
In relationships, it can be difficult to 通知 when the person you are dating is an energy vampire, but it is crucial to recognize it. Here are 9 clear signs that your partner could be an energy vampire.
1. You Always Feel Drained After Interacting With Them
Even short conversations or texting leave you feeling drained or controlled.
Your partner might be talking about their problems for some time, and when it is time to listen to yours, they seem distant.
This kind of unequal energy distribution can drain you while your partner feels good after talking to you.
2. They Constantly Make Everything About Themselves
No matter what you’re going through, ‘energy vampires’ redirect the focus back to their own drama.
If you complain about something, they will always mention how they have it worse or talk about their own tragedy for hours. You will feel unheard, unseen, and almost as if you need to comfort them.
This is not healthy for any relationship because it will leave one side feeling left out and eventually drained.
3. Your Emotions Are Frequently Dismissed or Minimized
If you even dare to express how you feel, they will dismiss it and make you feel as if you are too ’emotional’ or a person who nags too much.
For example, if you do not like the tone of their voice, or a certain action they took, they will seem like it is your problem, and take NO responsibility.
This can create a huge emotional gap between two partners, leaving one partner feeling like a burden for simply expressing their opinion. This will subtly drain your energy, and you will feel like you are too much for just existing.
4. They Thrive on Conflict and Chaos
Once you successfully deal with drama, your relationship becomes peaceful and stable… until it’s not!
Energy vampires thrive on conflict, drama, and chaos, and they can never be calm and peaceful in a relationship. Calm is boring to them, so they will always find a way to create new problems and new reasons to argue.
After a while, you will find yourself always being a problem solver, which is draining after some time. You will need them to be there for you when something serious happens, but they will never take the role of a problem solver.
5. You Feel Guilty for Setting Boundaries
Any attempt to protect your time or energy is met with guilt trips, and that can be extremely draining!
For example, you would like to spend some time alone on vacation, just to do your own stuff, and your partner is not OK with that to the point they make you feel bad for even suggesting it.
This could be a sign they are draining your energy – on purpose. Also, if you express certain boundaries and you mention that you do not like certain things, and they still keep doing them, even when they know you are annoyed, it is a red flag.
If you feel like you cannot express your boundaries or how you feel without being judged, it is possible you are dealing with an energy vampire.
6. You’re Walking on Eggshells Around Them
If you feel like you are constantly filtering yourself to avoid triggering your partner, it could be a sign that you are already emotionally drained.
You avoid saying things that may come off as needy or rude because you know you will trigger drama or their judgment. This is another emotionally draining aspect of dating an ‘energy vampire’ that will make you feel unheard and unimportant.
In an ideal relationship, partners should be able to communicate openly and feel free to express their concerns. It is not okay to hide your feelings and thoughts so you do not trigger your partner.
7. They Feed Off Your Empathy or Kindness
If you are a caring person, especially a caring partner, you will be a magnet for energy vampires. They will love using your kind and caring energy while not giving much in return.
When they are feeling down, they will use you as their charger until they feel good, and they will not care that you feel exhausted afterwards.
If this happens constantly, it can make you feel very drained and neglected. You need to keep in mind that healthy relationships require both partners to care about each other, and should never be one-sided.
8. They Rarely Offer Support When You Need It
In your lowest moments, they disappear, and they try to make it about them. Energy vampires are never empathetic, or they pretend to be, but when you need them, they will suddenly have more important things to deal with.
If this happens in your relationship, and it happens often, it is time to recognize that you might be dealing with an energy vampire, and it is unlikely that they will ever change.
This draining relationship may affect your physical and mental health.
9. Your Self-Worth Has Started to Erode
If you start hating yourself in your relationship, it is a huge red flag and an energy vampire alert.
You start not liking the way you look, you feel less confident, you feel like your accomplishments are not worthy, and you are always anxious. This means that your partner is not there to support you, but to let you down.
They drain your energy to feed theirs, and to feel better about themselves. As you give them all your energy, they feel better while you feel worse. These signs should not be ignored, and you should rethink your relationship.
A true, fulfilling relationship should make you feel better and become the best version of yourself.
Born and raised in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ever since I was a little girl, my imagination knew no bounds. I remember vividly how I’d scribble down short stories, each page bursting with adventures and characters conjured up from the whimsy of my mind. These stories weren’t just for me; they were my way of connecting with my friends, offering them a slice of my fantasy world during our playtimes. The joy and excitement on their faces as we dived into my fictional realms motivated me to keep writing. This early passion for storytelling naturally evolved into my pursuit of writing, turning a childhood hobby into a fulfilling career.