Whether at the office or at home, we all have a certain person who just zaps our energy, tires us mentally, and is hard to deal with. While we may not be able to stop dealing with the person, HEALTH reveals that learning to read the signs is one step towards confronting the problem.

Understanding the Signs

One of the first things to do is to recognize when you’re being drained, and that begins with tuning in to your physical reactions. Do you feel tired when you hang up the phone after speaking with someone? Does your head ache, or do you feel low and worthless when he/she starts talking to you?

Deep Breath

The moment you feel zapped—or stressed out—take a deep breath. Breathing is a wonderful way to center yourself. Just follow the breath and tell yourself that you know what’s happening and you can deal with it. It’s important to remember our individual power. If we can focus on the breath, or on an image of a mountaintop, the tension will lessen.

Make Boundaries

Creating boundaries is another way of protecting yourself by saying: “This is what I can do for you, and this is what I can’t.” You don’t have to convince this person of your stance. Instead of getting defensive, remain neutral. When someone starts pushing your buttons, and you start boiling inside, stay calm and cool.

Step back

Step back and consider the type of people that irritate you, because one law of energy is that we attract what we haven’t yet worked out in ourselves. If I’m a very angry person, I’ll find myself surrounded by angry people. By paying attention
to the people who seem so draining, you might discover something you need to address. (Credit: Dr. Tara Wyne, clinical psychologist)