Understanding Energetic Boundaries: The Connection Between Empaths and Energy Vampires
Having weak energetic boundaries means that you easily merge with other people’s energy fields—you both take their energy in and place your energy into theirs. This often happens unconsciously, but the consequences are numerous and significant. It’s like if you had only a gallon of your own special water (that you need to survive!) and you went around pouring it into other people’s glasses, and taking some of their water (which doesn’t actually nourish you, but drains you further).
As an energy healer, I've noticed that there are two specific kinds of people who display weak energetic boundaries:
Energy vampires: those who siphon others’ energy by engaging in manipulative, victimizing, and/or dominating behaviors in order to gain control, validation, and/or attention. This often looks like someone who is narcissistic and/or emotionally immature.
Empaths: those who are highly sensitive and, often in childhood, learned to merge with others’ energy fields in order to sense and manage emotional states. For the empath, this became a survival mechanism: noticing when someone else was dysregulated and acting to make the situation feel safe. Many empaths also want to ease others’ pain, so they take it on themselves, relieving the burden temporarily. The challenge is that empaths feel the emotions of everyone around them, making it overwhelming to be in crowds, consume media, or even engage in everyday interactions.
Weak energetic boundaries can create countless challenges (I’ll share more in Part II). Yet, for both energy vampires and empaths, there’s a shared dynamic: finding comfort by focusing outside of themselves. In doing so, their own body, mind, and spirit are left on the backburner.
This topic is near and dear to my heart because, as an empath, I struggled with weak energetic boundaries for most of my life. It wasn’t until I studied energy medicine that I realized I was entirely outwardly focused—bringing in other people’s energy, draining my own, and consequently feeling physically depleted, unsure of who I was, and why I was even here. For years, I was constantly referring to others (at home, school, and eventually at work) — checking in on their comfort level, wanting to ensure they felt good, but never actually doing the same for myself. This made me an excellent nurse but, eventually manifested in burnout, painful physical symptoms, and a deep knowing that something had to change.
Today, I help other empaths strengthen their energetic boundaries and reclaim sovereignty by healing the trauma and wounding beneath this coping mechanism. In the process, they reconnect with their soul essence — the truth of who they are without external interference. And rather than being overwhelmed by their sensitivity, they learn to channel it as a gift. Many empaths are deeply intuitive, psychic, and natural healers.
If you’re ready to strengthen your boundaries and come home to yourself, I’d love to support you. You can start by booking a free consultation here.