“Toxic Positivity” and the Pressure to Be Okay All the Time
- Saideep Bikkineni
- Jun 9
- 3 min read
What is Toxic Positivity?
Toxic Positivity is when someone tries to suppress their emotions and be unrealistically optimistic without fully analyzing the circumstances of the situation. This can cause someone to force themselves to be positive and try not to feel depressed or stressed when in a difficult situation or a difficult event. An example of this is when you lose a loved one but you force yourself to be positive and optimistic so you do not feel depressed.
Why is Toxic Positivity Bad?
Toxic Positivity is bad because it suppresses normal human emotions like sadness. Studies show that suppressing your emotions can lead to other emotions like stress and anxiety. However, it can also lead to severe physical problems like high blood pressure. Toxic Positivity can also take a toll on your relationships because lots of healthy relationships are built on honesty and understanding. However, when someone decides to hide their true feelings it can cause hindrance in their relationships causing your social life to also be damaged from Toxic Positivity. Toxic Positivity can also lead to an increase in one’s feelings of shame and cause them to be more isolated. Practicing toxic positives can cause someone to be completely ashamed of their situation or their struggles because they think that negative emotions make them weak. People can also become isolated due to this because they are afraid that people will judge them for what they are experiencing. This can cause them to withdraw from social conversations and interactions, afraid of what other people might say. The final reason that I have listed here today why toxic positivity is bad is because it stuns your personal growth. The negative emotions that humans feel have a purpose, which is people knowing that there is an issue, which needs attention. Without this, people might not notice hidden issues and it will keep you from growing through your experiences.
Why Does Toxic Positivity Still Exist Today?
After discussing lots of the harmful effects of Toxic Positivity, it still is here today, why? There are a lot of factors when it comes to why people chose to practice toxic positivity. Social Media sites communicate to people an idealized life that is perfect with no problems. This makes someone feel that their life should be perfect and free from problems causing them to hide their true feelings and emotions. Toxic Positivity is done because they do not want to feel discomfort when expressing their emotions to others. They use toxic positivity as some defense mechanism against uncomfortable conversations causing them to be free of discomfort, but in reality it just makes the situation worse.
Antidote to Toxic Positivity
You might think that the solution to Toxic Positivity is negativity, but that is not true. Do not suppress your negative emotions, express them because these emotions are human and give people insights into your needs. Also, if you feel like you need it, seek professional support, as they can better handle your feelings and will take the right steps to help you grow through your experiences. Also, be self-compassionate and be nice to yourself because this can help to express your emotions without feeling discomfort or ashamed of your experiences. To avoid spreading toxic positivity do not tell people how to change their emotions but instead sympathize with them, so their emotions are still expressed and not suppressed into positive feelings.
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