Energy Zapping People

[SeaBreeze]

I heard a radio show on this again last night, and I can relate, as I've known a couple of people like this. They spoke of certain people who affect our moods indirectly, they benefit, while our positive energy is zapped.

I worked with this gal, who always had a problem worse than the next fellow. She always complained of having things very bad since she was a child. When someone had a headache, she had a migraine...someone had knee pain, she had torn muscles...if it was sunny and nice out in winter, she would warn that it wouldn't last the day...and on, and on.

Anyhoo, lots of times I'd spend my lunch break with her, and sympathetically listen to her endless stories, about her abusive mother, mean sister, controlling boyfriend, etc. I ended up feeling so bad for her, despite the fact that my eyes were just glazed over for listening to her non-stop while I tried to eat my snack. When break was over, she walked away all giggly and bubbly with the other workers, and I was down in the dumps.

I didn't notice what was happening, until it occurred repeatedly. Then I even started doubting all of her stories. Well, in the end, this person who had such hard times, always seemed to leave our conversations in a super good mood. Although I started out in a good mood, it was hours afterwards that I still felt the negative effect.

Anyone have a similar experience, or know what I mean? Obviously it's something common, because they're taking about this on radio shows, etc.

 

[Diwundrin]

Oh yes, a casual acquaintance is exactly like that. Only two subjects she converses about, her health, and her sad life story. I'm not sure how she feels when she leaves but it leaves me in the wrist slitting mood. I haven't heard from her for weeks and it's been utter bliss. I hope she's left town.

 

[Pappy]

I worked with a fellow for 26 years who was like this. I'm a live and let live type of person and usually would arrive at work in a good mood. Every day he had a new problem and all of us had to hear it over and over again.

It would get to the point where we would make up excuses to get away from him. His main objective was to bring you down to his level. He succeeded at first and then we totally ignored him and his complaining after awhile.

 

[SeaBreeze]

Oh yes, a casual acquaintance is exactly like that. Only two subjects she converses about, her health, and her sad life story. I'm not sure how she feels when she leaves but it leaves me in the wrist slitting mood.

You hit the nail on the head Di!

It would get to the point where we would make up excuses to get away from him. His main objective was to bring you down to his level. He succeeded at first and then we totally ignored him and his complaining after awhile.

Yeah, a lot of people tried to get away, so did I but wasn't always very successful...she was good at cornering me, and I was too polite to shut her down. Wish I could've trained myself to ignore.

 

[SifuPhil]

Energy vampires are real!

In my Qigong classes I've taught my students how to energetically defend against them - basically you envision putting up a fence around yourself through which their negativity cannot pass. You can still talk to them over the fence, sort of like how Wilson did with Tim in Home Improvement , but they can't get close enough to you to do any damage and you can always just walk away from the fence.

A more advanced technique is to allow their words to simply pass through you; you make note of their content but you discard the self-pity and the plea for attention. Harder to learn but much quicker to use.

Good topic!

 

[That Guy]

I like to leave 'em laughin' . . .