16. Energy vampirism

16. Energy vampirism

I have observed that energy vampirism occurs in both children and adults.

Example: creating a conflict that causes irritation and a strong emotional reaction; the person provoking it absorbs the energy released (vampirism).

This kind of problem can become repetitive, compulsive and perverse behaviour in the AS person, and lead to a permanently negative approach to situations. The solution is to explain clearly what is happening and to send an ‘I-message’ (say how you feel in this situation), explaining that this behaviour hurts you and the family too. If we do not intervene quickly enough in this kind of situation, the person who is suffering will turn increasingly towards the negative and towards increasingly dark behaviour.

CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) always asks us to demonstrate the negative situation and show what positive thing we can do or say instead: a form of re-education that lasts three weeks to establish the change in behaviour. It works better within the family, where we are much more present than an outside therapist.