PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Declaration of Independence recognizes life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as inalienable rights of all men and women.

Is emotional freedom in there too?

Like happiness, life doesn’t hand us emotional freedom.

But according to Dr. Judith Orloff, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA, it’s necessary if you don’t want to be enslaved by life’s pressures:

“Emotional freedom means learning how to keep your center no matter what’s happening and not just react when your buttons get pushed”

Her acclaimed book “Emotional Freedom” describes these pesky button pushers she calls emotional vampires, who can make your life a living hell if you let them. For example, the narcissist:

“They know how to play you and when you want to leave them they know exactly what to say to you to bring you back.”

The controller:

“I think you’d look so beautiful if you would just lost four pounds .”

The criticizer:

“Somebody who puts you down, who are you to look for that promotion.”

You’ll learn how to spot these emotional vampires in Dr. Orloff’s book “Emotional Freedom” and she recommends you not fall in love with a narcissist.

Be calm, she says, but be firm. You don’t want to engage their negativity because you’re giving them what they want.

When they can’t get what they want and the emotional vampires go away then you can get on with the pursuit of your happiness.

Reported By Cheryl Elias, KYW Newsradio