1. The Victim or
Martyr Vampire
Victim or Martyr Vampires prey off your guilt.
Victims/Martyrs
believe that they are "at 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.
Without always
receiving signs of love, thanks, and approval, Victim/Martyr
Vampires feel unworthy and unacceptable, which they try to
resolve by making you feel guilty and sucking away your
sympathy/empathy.
How to nurture your energy:
When you're
around a Victim/Martyr Vampire, be aware of the 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,
towards 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.
Narcissist Vampires
will also manipulate you with false charm, but will just as
quickly turn around and stab you in the back. If you have a
Narcissist Vampire in your life, you might feel a sense of
extreme disempowerment as you feel crushed beneath their
limelight.
How to nurture your energy:
If you're unable
to cut this person off from your life right now, you might
like 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 and/or bigoted.
How to nurture your energy:
Agree to
disagree.
Practice
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 a product of dark underlying emptiness
in their lives.
Melodramatic Vampires
also love seeking out crisis 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 cut them out
of your life if possible.
5. The
Judgemental Vampire
Due to their severely low self-worth, the Judgemental Energy
Vampire loves to pick on other people.
Their treatment of
other people is merely a reflection of how they treat
themselves. Judgemental 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 Judgemental 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 in the case of
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 good that you
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 away 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.
