Dodging Energy Vampires: An Empath’s Guide to Evading Relationships That Drain You and Restoring Your Health and Power

by Christiane Northrup

and sacrifice for most of our lives that we tend to take on too much responsibility for the health of a relationship. We’re so used to over-giving that if someone gives 25 percent compared to our 75 percent, we feel like we’ve finally arrived in relationship nirvana. OMG—he put down the toilet seat. He must love me. When we don’t feel

We make the mistake of thinking that energy vampires are as sensitive as we are. We don’t want to risk hurting their feelings, so in order to protect them and their feelings—and because we’re so darn good at solving problems in all the other areas of our lives—we keep giving them our energy and draining ourselves rather than risk standing up to them, standing up for ourselves, and owning how angry, hurt, and disappointed we really feel. And then ending the relationship.