weed out the psychic vampires from my life

People who once seemed so draining and predatory may begin to behave more kindly and rationally once you start taking a stand. I’m not excusing anyone who’s slighted me, of course.

My other tactic is avoidance, about which I have mixed feelings. On one hand, it sort of sends a message to those taxing individuals that being around them is not your favourite pastime. On the other, it’s not directly addressing the problem, now is it? Of course, some people cannot be reasoned with, and take everything as a direct insult, no matter how tactfully or carefully you word yourself. Avoidance is not always the same as cowardice, and so I shall be careful to dole it out only when necessary.

I need help severing the ties with a particularly bloodthirsty leech. It keeps coming back, just when I think I’m free of it.

There is a lot of baggage here. Quite a hefty amount, and the cowardly part of me is convinced that my life will suffer for it. But it has to happen, somehow.

Suggestions?

I’ve had a few in my time, and now I find it diffcult to distinguish the fine line between toxic and occasionally irritating. I’m so determined never to be screwed over again that I sometimes judge too harshly, or become too possesive of my thoughts or feelings. I don’t want to become a closed, cold person! When fighting monsters, we must be sure not to become monsters ourselves in the process (paraphrased from good old Neitsche).