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Expert Q&A
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| By Judith Orloff, M.D. Psychiatrist | ||
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One of the other moms at my daughter's new school always seeks me out, whether in the carpool line or at school functions, etc., and all she has to say are bad things about everyone and everything! It makes me feel exhausted after talking to her. What can I do?
It sounds like you have encountered an energy vampire, someone who saps the life right out of you. This is such an important subject I've devoted an entire chapter in my book, Positive Energy, to energy vampires.
Here's what I advise: If you can make a quick exit do so. You can always say, "Excuse me I have to go the bathroom." Another important skill is to learn how to set limits with draining people. This means limit the time you spend talking to her or say in a sweet, neutral tone, "You know, I really like to look at the positive side about people so I'd rather stick to that."
A vampire doesn't always respond right away, so you may have to repeat the same line each time you see her for a while. Setting limits is a way of taking care of yourself so you have more energy for yourself and your children.
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