Everyone has unique traits and areas for self-improvement, but it isn’t easy to maintain tolerance around people who drain your energy. Nobody likes a negative Nancy, and they come in so many forms. To help you navigate these kinds of people, we’ve put together a list of 17 draining personality types you might encounter.
The Narcissist
Someone with narcissistic tendencies usually has an inflated sense of their own importance, and it isn’t easy to deal with. 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.” So, while these people clearly need help, we’d be lying if we said it wasn’t draining to be around.
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 Complainer
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 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.