What Is Toxic Positivity?

Toxic positivity is a form of emotional invalidation which involves denying, avoiding, or minimizing negative emotions and experiences, and instead responding to distress with false reassurances. It is rooted in a discomfort with negative emotions, and can lead to alienation, disconnection, and the suppression of important experiences or feelings. It is often done with the best intentions, but can have detrimental consequences. With this in mind, the Forest session "What is Toxic Positivity?" will explore the concept of toxic positivity and its implications, as well as provide strategies for managing it and supporting others who might be affected.

What we covered

Toxic positivity is a form of emotional invalidation which involves denying, avoiding, or minimizing negative emotions and experiences, and instead responding to distress with false reassurances. It is rooted in a discomfort with negative emotions, and can lead to alienation, disconnection, and the suppression of important experiences or feelings. It is often done with the best intentions, but can have detrimental consequences.

Toxic positivity is, at its core, an attempt to put a positive spin on something that is negative. It is a form of emotional invalidation, where people deny, avoid, or minimize their own or others’ negative emotions and experiences. It is rooted in a discomfort with negative emotions and can lead to alienation, disconnection, and the suppression of important experiences or feelings.

Toxic positivity is often framed as a “power of positive thinking” mentality, where people are encouraged to think positively, ignore the bad, and focus on the good. This type of thinking is often used to cope with difficult emotions, as it can be a helpful way to manage stress and anxiety in the short-term. However, in the long-term, it can be detrimental to overall wellbeing.

When someone is engaging in toxic positivity, they may be trying to avoid facing their own negative emotions or those of another person. For example, they may respond to someone’s expression of sadness with a comment like “It will be ok” or “Cheer up”. This response is invalidating, as it fails to acknowledge the other person’s pain and implies that their emotions are not valid or should not be expressed.

Toxic positivity can also be harmful in that it can lead to disconnection, isolation, and the suppression of important emotions and experiences. If people are constantly told to “look on the bright side” or “think positively”, they may start to feel like their negative emotions are not valid or should not be expressed. This can lead to a sense of alienation, as they may feel like their emotions are not “allowed”. Furthermore, if they are constantly being told to ignore their negative emotions, they may start to believe that it is wrong to have these feelings and so they may start to suppress them. This can be detrimental to their mental health, as it is important to acknowledge and express our emotions in order to process and manage them.

In addition to being harmful to mental health, toxic positivity can also be damaging to relationships. When people are engaging in toxic positivity, they may be trying to avoid facing their own negative emotions or those of another person. This can lead to a lack of connection and understanding between people, as they may not be able to relate to each other’s experiences. Furthermore, if someone is constantly being told to “look on the bright side”, they may start to feel like their feelings are not being acknowledged or validated by their peers. This can lead to feelings of alienation, as they may start to feel like their experiences are not understood or accepted by their peers.

In order to manage toxic positivity, it is important to first understand the concept and its implications. It is also important to recognize when you or someone else is engaging in toxic positivity, and to be mindful of how it can be damaging to relationships and mental health. Furthermore, it is important to practice self-compassion and to acknowledge and express your own negative emotions in a safe and healthy way. Additionally, it is important to be aware of how your words and actions can affect others, and to be mindful of how your words and actions may be interpreted or received by those around you.

Finally, it is important to remember that everyone experiences emotions differently, and that it is ok to feel whatever you are feeling. It is also important to remember that everyone has a right to express their emotions in a safe and healthy way, and to be supported and validated by their peers. Furthermore, it is important to remember that it is ok to not always be positive and to take time to process and acknowledge your emotions.

Ultimately, it is important to be aware of the concept of toxic positivity and to be mindful of how it can affect relationships and mental health. It is also important to practice self-compassion and to remember that it is ok to feel whatever you are feeling. Finally, it is important to be aware of your own words and actions, as well as to be mindful of how your words and actions may be interpreted or received by those around you.