Sooner or later, we all come across someone who has negative energy.
Some people are more sensitive to other people’s energies than others, but it’s impossible to be around these negative people without being at least a little bit affected.
Even a few minutes with them will leave you feeling drained and exhausted. You’ll feel like someone turned off the light inside your soul. That’s why I like to call such people “energy vampires”.
So what exactly is negative energy?
It can be defined as a kind of energy that is dark and pessimistic; not exactly something we want flowing through our bodies, is it?
Here are 10 ways you can recognize if someone has negative energy:
1) They bring you down
The first sign of being in the presence of someone with a lot of negative energy is that you’ll probably start feeling down.
There’s no particular reason for you to be feeling down. Nothing bad has happened. Everything is as it should be. The only thing is that you’re in the company of this person.
If you notice yourself feeling down every time you’re around them, that means that they have a lot of negative energy.
The more time you spend with this person, the more you will absorb their negative energy and become more negative yourself, which will make you feel down and even depressed.
2) They drain your energy
Not only can people with negative energy bring you down, but they also have the ability to completely drain you of your energy.
You’ll find that when you’re around people with a lot of negative energy, you don’t have the same level of energy you would normally have. In fact, you feel like you just ran a marathon or like you haven’t slept in days.
Their negative energy has such a strong effect on you that it depletes your own positive or neutral energy, making you feel exhausted.
It’s a very unusual feeling, especially if you don’t know where it’s coming from.
The type of people that most commonly have or emit negative energy are those who are pessimistic and constantly complaining about something.
If you notice you’re feeling drained and low on energy, and you’re in the presence of a pessimist, it’s because of the negative energy they’re giving off.
3) They make you feel sad for no reason
Do you ever find yourself feeling sad and depressed for no reason?
You don’t suffer from depression, but when you are around certain people, you just feel sad. Sound familiar?
This is because negative energy can create an overall feeling of sadness and low mood, which can manifest in depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
When you’re with people who have a lot of negative energy, it may seep into your own energy and make you feel sad for no reason.
The best way to get rid of this is to distance yourself from the person who’s bringing this negative energy into your life.
Try not to spend too much time around people who emit negative energy, because as I mentioned, it can make you feel down and depressed and drain you of your energy.
Be careful, being around someone with negative energy could have a long-term negative effect on your mental health.
4) Your intuition is telling you something isn’t right about them
Another way to tell that someone has negative energy is to listen to your intuition.
If you have a really strong gut feeling that something is off about a specific person, it could be because of the negative energy they have.
Negative energy can make you feel uncomfortable and out of your element, and you may have a strong feeling that something just isn’t right.
If you notice that a specific person is making you feel uneasy and uncomfortable, and you have no idea why it’s because of their energy.
The bottom line is that your intuition can pick up on things your logical side can’t, so if you feel that something is not right about that person, trust your gut.
5) They have a dark aura
Here’s another (slightly scary) thing about people with a lot of negative energy: They are likely to have a dark aura around them!
This is an invisible energy that you can’t see, but trust me, it’s something you can definitely feel.
You may be able to detect a person has a dark aura if they are constantly complaining and are pessimistic about everything.
They’ll also have a very serious demeanor and won’t know how to have fun.
A person with a dark aura is negative, resentful, and bitter.
I think that this happens when a person has a lot of pent-up negative energy inside of them that they don’t know how to release and they end up creating a dark aura.
6) They’re dishonest
A person with negative energy is often very insecure and may want to make themselves feel better by lying about things and putting themselves above others.
It makes sense if you think about it. If they have nothing positive about them, they’re bound to be dishonest and try to paint a better picture of themselves.
Even if you aren’t able to identify the negative energy they’re putting out, you’ll most likely notice that something is off about them.
If you notice that someone is constantly lying to you, it’s best you minimize your time with them.
7) They’re manipulative
Not only are they dishonest, but they’re manipulative too. They’ll try to control other people and manipulate them into doing what they want.
For example, they will try to guilt trip you into doing something you don’t want to do – like giving up your weekend to help them do their taxes or study for an exam at the last minute.
Basically, it’s all about their needs. Negative people are very self-centered. This can make them difficult to work with, as they are not team players.
8) They know exactly what to say to trigger you
People with negative energy are toxic. They know exactly what to say to upset you.
They feed off of the reactions that they get from others and they’re constantly trying to find a new way to trigger your buttons.
9) They make you feel anger and rage
If you’re being manipulated by someone with negative energy or they’re pushing all the right buttons, you’re likely to find yourself feeling anger and rage towards them.
Even the calmest and most zen person is bound to lose it around someone with negative energy.
You may have no idea why you suddenly have these intense and strong emotions toward them, but they will be there nonetheless.
10) They have no empathy and can only think of themselves
Finally, people with negative energy often have no empathy. They can’t see things from other people’s perspectives, they don’t know or care when someone else is hurting.
They are unable to understand or share the feelings of others. This makes them very difficult to get along with. They are also highly resistant to change.
They only care about themselves and their problems and that’s a toxic quality that you have to avoid if you want to be happy.
How can you protect yourself from negative energy?
Thankfully, there are ways to protect yourself from negative energy – both intentional and unintentional – so that you can stay happy and positive on a daily basis.
Here are some practical tips on how you can stay positive despite the challenges in life and protect yourself from negative energy:
1) Breathe and meditate
When you feel overwhelmed by negative energy, take a few moments to breathe deeply.
Deep breathing has a number of health benefits, including lowering levels of stress, reducing feelings of anxiety and depression, helping to manage cravings, and even improving your immune system.
Beyond this, deep breathing is one of the best ways to harness the power of positive energy and protect you from negative energy.
If you are around someone with a lot of negative energy, it’s a good idea to leave as quickly as possible. But if that isn’t an option, try to clear your mind.
Try to focus on breathing in positive energy and thoughts while expelling the negativity that is around you.
Let me tell you about something that changed my life that I think can help you out too.
I had a health scare last year which had me in a constant state of panic. I was so anxious and stressed because I was constantly imagining the worst possible outcome.
What helped me keep my sanity through this trying time was coming across this amazing breathwork video created by the shaman Rudá Iandê.
Rudá’s breathwork sequences will teach you to take control of your emotions instead of letting them rule over you.
Not only are these exercises guaranteed to help you release some of your stress and anxiety, but I believe they will help protect you from negative energy.
Click here to watch the free video.
Trust me, this will help you to feel a little more in control.
2) Protect yourself by keeping boundaries in place
Boundaries are a great way to protect yourself, especially when the source of negative energy is someone else.
For example, if someone is trying to pressure you into doing something that you don’t really want to do – like lending them money that you know you’ll never see again, it’s important to put up a boundary. They’ll try to manipulate and guilt trip you but you need to stay strong and not give in.
Explain that you can’t spare any of your hard-earned money and that they have to come up with it some other way. If they say you’re not a good person for refusing, tell them they don’t have to spend time with you.
By doing so, you will be protecting yourself from their negative energy and the harm they may be causing you.
3) Be grateful
Being grateful is one of the best ways to protect yourself from negative energy.
When you shift your focus to the things that you are grateful for, you shift your attention away from the negative energy and towards one that is positive.
Moreover, by being grateful, you are actively reprogramming your mind and helping to create positive habits.
When you are in the middle of a challenging situation, it can be easy to get caught up and lose hope. However, when you are feeling positive, you are coming from a place of strength and goodness.
4) Surround yourself with positive people
The people you surround yourself with can have a big impact on your mood and energy levels.
If you’re constantly around negative people, it can be draining. Their negative energy can rub off on you and make you feel down.
On the other hand, being around positive people can be uplifting. Their positive energy can boost your mood and make you feel happier. So it’s important to surround yourself with positive people who will support and encourage you.
When you’re positive, you’re more likely to attract positive things into your life.
So make a conscious effort to surround yourself with people who make you feel good. You’ll be happier and more successful as a result!
5) Don’t forget to laugh and smile
It seems simple because it is simple. Laughter is actually an incredibly powerful transformative force.
This is partly due to the fact that laughing encourages the release of endorphins – which are chemicals that improve your mood and make you feel happier.
By regularly engaging in positive activities, such as laughing with friends, keeping fit, and being in nature, you will be actively reprogramming your mind and generating more positive energy which will help you when you are around negative people.
6) Keep your own energy levels up by taking care of yourself
There is no doubt that you can and should actively reprogram your mind to generate more positive energy.
However, it’s important to remember that this is a process, and it won’t happen overnight.
That’s why it’s really important that you take care of yourself in order to keep your energy levels up.
So what exactly does that mean?
- First, make sure you are eating the healthiest diet possible. This means eating foods that are high in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. It’s also important to avoid sugary and processed foods as much as possible.
- Remember to drink lots of water. By keeping hydrated, you will improve your digestion, clear your skin, and improve your energy levels.
- Exercise regularly. Whether this means spending time at the gym, jogging, swimming, or cycling, make sure that you’re doing something that gets that heart rate going.
- Meditate: This will take care of your mind and soul.
7) Be alert to sudden mood changes
If you experience a sudden shift in your mood, it could mean that negative energy has infiltrated your system.
Sudden mood shifts are typically triggered by external factors such as places and people.
When you notice a sudden change in your mood, it’s important to identify the cause. Doing so will help you to better deal with the situation and protect yourself from further negative energy. This can be challenging, but with practice, it will get easier.
Most importantly, don’t beat yourself up when it happens. It’s normal to experience changes in mood from time to time. It’s also important to acknowledge that while you can’t control everything that happens around you, you can control how you react to it.
8) Notice how you feel after an encounter with this person
Lastly, if you find yourself coming into contact with someone who is emitting negative energy, take a moment to reflect on how you are feeling afterward.
If you feel significantly different – whether it be angry, stressed, or sad – it could be a sign that you have absorbed some of their negative energy. Once you’re aware of where the energy is coming from, you can work on lessening its effect on you.
Although you can’t completely prevent negative energy from entering your system, you can minimize the effects by following the advice I’ve given you above, and by distancing yourself as much as possible from the person with the negative energy.
Final thoughts
If you’re constantly surrounded by negative people, it’s important to find ways to protect yourself.
Otherwise, their negative energy will start to affect your own mood and outlook on life. One way to do this is to limit your exposure to negative people. This might mean spending less time with them, or setting boundaries so that they can’t constantly bring you down.
It’s also important to practice self-care so that you can recharge and stay positive.
