[TheEbonyEwe]

What is wrong with a 68 year old woman who:

- Shows jealousy when other/younger women have talents that she does not.
- Is extremely dismissive to anyone who has a health issue or is in a situation that isn't as serious as hers. In other words: nobody is as sick or suffering as much as she is. If you say you have arthritis, she'll one-up you with her conditions. She acts like nobody has suffered as much in their life as she has and she'll let you know what she went through.
- Likes to volunteer you to do things without asking you. She'll do it in front of other people to, hoping it will pressure you into saying yes.
- Has to be the center of attention. ALWAYS has something to say about everything.
- Is ALWAYS a victim of something. If she's not complaining or gossiping about who said/did this to her, she's not happy. When she is finished with one drama, she'll dive into another one.
- If you can't help her with something, she gets really nasty with you and asks why you can't and tries to come up with solutions so you can.

Is this person what you would call an emotional vampire? I'm not sure what is wrong with this woman; she's my neighbor and she keeps trying to drag me down into her emotional dungeon of morbidity and self-pity. I hate feeling like that all the time. I don't know why she always has to have something to gossip and complain about. I like laughing and having fun, myself.

I feel like I need to distance myself from her, but she keeps showing up and saying things like, "Without you reminding me to be positive, I don't know what I'd do." I get the feeling that she would just go find someone else to complain to.
I know we all need to vent, but when it's a one-way street, it gets old. How can I be nice to this person? I think she had a rough life and was abused and neglected growing up. I don't want to be one more person who was mean to her, but ugh...as an Aspie, it's really taking its toll on me. I feel mentally exhausted after a visit or talk with her.

I can only think of concepts such as low self-esteem and insecurity.

Sorry I can't add much more.

[-jimi-]

An antisocial of some sort. Narcissist or psychopath.

I believe it is s simple as low self worth and esteem. She is seeking approval for herself because she doesn't feel deserving and hence seeks attention.

[Thunder Bow]

Do not visit her so much anymore. If you feel that way about her.