17 Types of People Who Drain Your Energy

We’re all individuals, and we all have areas we could maybe work on a little, but dealing with people who drain your energy and make it hard to effectively communicate can be difficult. We’ve compiled a list of 17 tricky types of people you might have come across.

The Complainer

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These people will usually focus on the negative aspects of life, bringing down the mood of others around them. According to Headspace, “Negative people’s pessimistic outlook can drag down your mood, making you feel sullen and cynical.”

The Energy Vampire

Often demanding attention and emotional support without any reciprocation when you need help, energy vampires can leave you feeling emotionally and physically drained. These people tend to thrive on drama, enjoying pulling you and other people into their chaos.

The Pessimist

Always expecting the worst possible outcome, pessimists can dampen enthusiasm and damage the morale of a group. Generally, these people will find it hard to see the positive in outcomes or events and rarely have hope for the future.

The Gossip

According to Insight Therapy, people may gossip to feel superior or to feel like part of the group; alternatively, it can also be because they’re anxious and looking to gain some control, they’re bored, or they have a sadistic personality. This gossiping creates a toxic environment in which everyone feels untrusting and paranoid.

The Victim

Those who consistently see themselves as the target of unfortunate circumstances, events, or outcomes are known as playing the character of the victim. This negative attitude often results in them avoiding taking responsibility for their actions or making others feel guilty for their own success or happiness.

The Controller

With a deep need to dictate the actions and decisions of those around them, controlling people are often tricky to be around. They can be overly critical and dismissive of others’ ideas, and their need for dominance creates a stressful environment for others.

The Skeptic

While challenges and criticism when working together can be constructive and lead to better problem-solving, skeptics tend to be obstructive with their challenges, making it harder to reach the desired outcome. They will doubt everything, often stifling creativity and innovation with their negativity.

The Narcissist

Someone with narcissistic tendencies usually has an inflated sense of their own importance. Mind Body Green says, “Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a clinically diagnosed personality disorder characterized by grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy toward other people.”

The Judge

Quick to criticize or judge, judgmental people will often come to conclusions about others without justification or enough information. This can make people feel undervalued or defensive, and it comes from a lack of understanding or compassion for different perspectives.

The Drama Enthusiast

Whether they amplify small issues into major crises or feed on conflict and issues, dramatic individuals usually enjoy being the center of attention. This approach to situations can often make teamwork and problem-solving challenging, as conversations are derailed and not focused on solutions.

The Manipulator

Using lies or coercion, manipulative people will try to influence others for their own personal gain. They might come across as charming to deceive others, and this makes it hard to identify how or why they are controlling in a relationship.

The Over-Competitive

Unnecessary competition can create a hostile environment that doesn’t encourage teamwork. To deal with this, Psychology Today recommends you “try to figure out why this person is being competitive and what their needs and goals are. Also, see if there are any common goals that you can use to get them to work with you, rather than against you.”

The Non-Listener

Listening to one another is an important foundation for any relationship, and when someone doesn’t actively listen, it can make you feel unappreciated or unheard. These individuals will often dominate conversations without paying attention to others’ input or missing important details.

The Chronic Interrupter

Verywell Mind says, “Consistent interruptions by the same person not only feel like a lack of respect for you and your thoughts, but they also demonstrate apparent self-centeredness.” On top of this, these interruptions can stop the flow of ideas and cause friction in group communications.

The Flake

Unreliable when it comes to plans or carrying out tasks they’ve committed to, flaky people will often cancel at the last minute or make excuses. This can leave others feeling undervalued and disrespected, which negatively impacts group dynamics and teamwork.

The Perfectionist

Setting unrealistically high standards for themselves, others, and working outcomes, perfectionists can be overly critical and create a fear of failure. This will negatively impact group work, especially as they often struggle to delegate their workload due to a lack of trust in others.

The Indecisive

Indecisive people find it challenging to make decisions, which causes delays and frustrations for others and can hinder progress in group settings or projects. These people will often rely excessively on those around them for direction and help, which can be tricky to deal with.