Is your colleague or boss an emotional vampire? Here's what experts say
Whether it is the great resignation or Gen Z burnout in the workplace, more employees and employers are having a hard time seeing eye to eye.
While bad pay and stress often play a big role in how some workplaces fall apart, there's also the risk of individuals playing into emotional contagion. This refers to staffers who unknowingly deplete the emotional state of other employees. They are also known as energy vampires.
We asked celebrity psychic Inbaal Honigman who are the most common energy vampire culprits, with advice to help avoid having your emotions sucked dry when you are on the grind.
1. THE CONSTANT COMPLAINER
These individuals focus exclusively on problems rather than solutions, often recycling the same complaints repeatedly. Their persistence is unwavering, and they ground their entire personalities around their need for repetition, even in complaining.
To mitigate, conversations need to be brief and original, meaning you tell the complainer the right solution, and don't get dragged into renegotiations.
2. THE DRAMA MAGNET
Life for these people is always in crisis mode, with every minor inconvenience treated as a catastrophe requiring immediate attention. They thrive on emotional intensity and unconsciously create situations that pull in other individuals.
Turn their made-up scenarios into a more productive conversation by sticking to the facts. Refuse to engage with their internal monologue and let them know you're happy to listen to them, not to their intrusive thoughts.
3. THE CHRONIC INTERRUPTER
These individuals dominate conversations, rarely listening but always speaking over others. This one-sided energy exchange leaves others feeling invisible and drained from the effort of trying to be heard. Their domineering of every conversation is at the heart of fiery interactions, and it is exhausting.
There's no way to beat them at their own game because shouting louder will only encourage them to raise their voice. Get out and leave them shouting in the void. Walk out of the room, put the phone down and don't reply to emails.
4. THE PERPETUAL VICTIM
Nothing is ever their fault, and they're constantly wronged by someone or something. They reject responsibility for their circumstances and subtly guilt others into providing emotional support without reciprocation. This energy vampire dwells in the water element. They manipulate emotions, water's signature move. There is only one way to disengage from a water vampire and that is to switch off emotionally. Don't take anything to heart, use short sentences, and if they accuse you of anything, say a dry 'sorry' and move on with your day.
5. THE JUDGMENTAL CRITIC
Always finding fault with others, these individuals spread negativity through constant criticism. Their harsh judgments create a defensive environment where others must constantly protect their energy from being diminished by disapproval.
Their god complex fuels their need to judge and admonish. Question their sanctity by asking 'why'. Questions would remind this energy vampire that they are not a deity.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Channel 4
2 minutes ago
- Channel 4
Minister sanctions ‘to be condemned by all who cherish democracies'
We asked the Foreign Office for an interview but nobody was available. We spoke to Michal Cotler-Wunsh, who's been appointed by the Israeli Foreign Ministry as special envoy for combating anti-Semitism. We began by asking her about the latest attack on an aid distribution point in Gaza, and why this continues on an almost daily basis.
Global News
2 minutes ago
- Global News
World Bank lowers global growth forecast, citing trade war ‘turbulence'
U.S. President Donald Trump's trade wars are expected to slash economic growth this year in the United States and around the world, the World Bank forecast Tuesday. Citing 'a substantial rise in trade barriers'' but without mentioning Trump by name, the 189-country lender predicted that the U.S. economy – the world's largest – would grow half as fast (1.4 per cent) this year as it did in 2024 (2.8 per cent). That marked a downgrade from the 2.3 per cent U.S. growth it had forecast back for 2025 back in January. The bank also lopped 0.4 percentage points off its forecast for global growth this year. It now expects the world economy to expand just 2.3 per cent in 2025, down from 2.8 per cent in 2024. In a forward to the latest version of the twice-yearly Global Economic Prospects report, World Bank chief economist Indermit Gill wrote that the global economy has missed its chance for the 'soft landing'' — slowing enough to tame inflation without generating serious pain — it appeared headed for just six months ago. Story continues below advertisement 'The world economy today is once more running into turbulence,' Gill wrote. 'Without a swift course correction, the harm to living standards could be deep.'' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy America's economic prospects have been clouded by Trump's erratic and aggressive trade policies, including 10 per cent taxes — tariffs — on imports from almost every country in the world. These levies drive up costs in the U.S. and invite retaliation from other countries. 1:46 Can the Liberal government's trade bill unify Canada's economy? The Chinese economy is forecast to see growth slow from five per cent in 2024 to 4.5 per cent this year and four per cent next. The world's second-largest economy has been hobbled by the tariffs that Trump has imposed on its exports, by the collapse of its real estate market and by an aging workforce. The World Bank expects the 20 European countries that share the euro currency to collectively grow just 0.7 per cent this year, down from an already lackluster 0.9 per cent in 2024. Story continues below advertisement Trump's tariffs are expected to hurt European exports. And the unpredictable way he rolls them out — announcing them, suspending them, coming up with new ones — has created uncertainty that discourages business investment. India is once again expected to the be world's fastest-growing major economy, expanding at a 6.3 per cent clip this year. But that's down from 6.5 per cent in 2024 and from the 6.7 per cent the bank had forecast for 2025 in January. In Japan, economic growth is expected to accelerate this year – but only from 0.2 per cent in 2024 to a sluggish 0.7 per cent this year, well short of the 1.2 per cent the World Bank had forecast in January. The World Bank seeks to reduce poverty and boost living standards by providing grants and low-rate loans to poor economies. Another multinational organization that seeks to promote global prosperity — the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development — last week downgraded its forecast for the U.S. and global economies.
New York Times
2 minutes ago
- New York Times
Marco Sturm and Don Sweeney on what comes next in the Bruins rebuild
BOSTON — Fourteen candidates had interviewed with general manager Don Sweeney for a chance to become the next head coach of the Boston Bruins. Marco Sturm, hired on June 5, bested the other 13 because he made his strengths come through: experience, vision, structure, positivity, player development and communication. Advertisement 'It was a pivotal moment for our franchise and to learn about reshaping our team,' Sweeney said on Tuesday at a news conference introducing Sturm as coach. 'To go through the process of hiring a coach who was committed to reestablishing and renewing our identity. To hiring a coach that was committed to playing with structure. To have an understanding of player development. To value communication and culture within our locker room. To understanding the game has evolved offensively.' For parts of four seasons, Sturm took cross-checks from Zdeno Chara and received passes from Patrice Bergeron. Those moments shaped Sturm into who he has become as a coach. 'It started right at practice,' Sturm recalled Tuesday. 'Little things like that. The way we prepared. The way we competed every day. It doesn't matter whether it's a practice or a game. That, for me, changed the whole thing right away.' It pleases Sturm, then, that David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy also practiced and played with Chara and Bergeron. Sturm's initial chats with his alternate captains revealed their shared experience. 'I can tell right away,' Sturm said. 'They learned from Bergeron. They learned from Chara. Because they already have it in them. That really got me excited too. We've just got to guide them again. We've got to reestablish the whole thing. Because these guys are not here anymore. So now, it's going to be up to us and the new group to lead this group to a new era.' Sturm acknowledged, however, the task at hand. His new employer is short on NHL players. Sturm needs a right-shot defenseman and multiple forwards. Whether Sweeney can supply him with such help remains to be seen. 'I love challenges,' Sturm said. So what's next for Sturm and Sweeney? 1. Hire an assistant coach. Jay Leach, Chris Kelly and Bob Essensa are remaining. Sturm wants an assistant with power-play expertise. This was the job Sturm initially had when he was an assistant for Todd McLellan with the Los Angeles Kings. The Bruins need major help. They were at 15.2 percent in 2024-25, No. 29 in the NHL. Advertisement The power play, however, will not all be on a new assistant. Sturm identified hiccups in predictability and connectivity when he reviewed video of the Bruins power play. He will insist, for example, that if he keeps Pastrnak on his strong side and Elias Lindholm in the bumper, the two right-shot forwards improve their reads. 2. Communicate to the players how the 2025-26 Bruins will play. Defensively, Sturm believes in structure. The Ontario Reign, where he coached for the past three seasons, used a hybrid in their end. Once they got the puck, Sturm preferred possession exits, but gave his players the green light to read what was best situationally. 'He stressed playing the right way,' Reign defenseman Joe Hicketts said. 'Sometimes the right way was gaining the zone and getting the puck out. Other times, it was making those small little plays to have zone exits with possession.' Offensively, Sturm likes players with pace. The Bruins were No. 28 last year with 2.71 goals per game. 'We've got to have better entries. Not turn pucks over,' Sturm said. 'That part was a big issue. In the offensive zone, we've got to build that structure in place. We've also got to be more hungry.' 3. Go deeper to learn player personalities. Sturm has an idea of how he'll interact with Pastrnak and McAvoy. They have been around. He is not familiar with prospects such as Matt Poitras and Fraser Minten, who could make varsity breakthroughs in 2025-26. Young players will require more of Sturm's attention. 'You can't treat everyone the same way,' said Sturm, who appreciated the straight-shooting style of Darryl Sutter and Claude Julien. 'So you've got to have a good feel for it — who to poke, who not. That's why I still like the mix in the locker room. The older guys, they still have that Bruins DNA. I love it. But there will be some other guys. I can't just treat those guys like the older guys.' Advertisement 4. Use every mechanism to add players. Sweeney has draft capital, such as the two first-rounders he has in 2026 and 2027. He has approximately $30 million in cap space, although Morgan Geekie and Mason Lohrei, the top two pending restricted free agents, need new deals. The GM has his first three picks in 2026 as the framework of an offer sheet. 'This is about a growth opportunity for the organization as well. Marco is a big part of that moving forward,' Sweeney said. 'So we will reshape.' Sturm will have input. He will then shift his systems to fit the reinforcements Sweeney brings in. 'The overall thing, it's already in place,' Sturm said of his philosophy. 'But now I've got to find out what kind of players I have. I'm going to react. 5. Deepen the prospect pool and improve development. With the counsel of his amateur staff, Sweeney will draft an impactful player at No. 7 on June 27. The two second-rounders will also be critical. The work starts there. Multiple candidates told Sweeney during interviews how they perceived the organization's work on player development. 'Those are eye-opening at times. And it's constructive,' Sweeney said. 'You have to take it to heart and make adjustments. We're not currently playing right now. So you have to accept the failures we have. Coaches were honest in pointing that out. Marco went through some of the things he felt we had done well, the things we'd gotten away from, where the league is at, where the league is headed to. It's all important parts of it. The player development part of it was certainly a big part of those conversations.' (Photo of Marco Sturm: Marcel Kusch / Getty Images)
