Page 8 - Senior Times South Central Michigan June 2022 - 29-06

Page 8 Senior Times - June 2022
TOXIC POSITIVITY: MENTAL HEALTH RISK
By: Glin Winsor
Times have been difficult the last few years. You’re still navigating a global pan- demic, you’re witnessing political upheaval, financial struggles, deaths of friends and loved ones, global warming... the list goes on and on.
Positivity is generally not harmful and can be actually beneficial, but it becomes toxic when it dismisses your genuine emo- tions or is enforced as the only way to be or feel.
can take a toll on you – mentally and physically.
Trying to maintain a positive attitude (i.e., to see the silver lining or make lemons out of lemonade) can be tough these days.
It can be especially hard when everyone around you is exuding positivity. Every time you scroll social media, someone has an inspirational quote and meme or is wearing a shirt that says, “Only Good Vibes” or, “No Bad Days.”
Toxic positivity can provide false reassur- ance to others or come across as a lack of empathy, like telling someone who recently lost a parent or loved one, “Everything will be OK.”
“Research has shown those who avoid negative emotions often feel worse later on,” Dr. Fox said. “If you keep avoiding the nat- ural negative emotions, they’ll keep coming back ten-fold.”
It can be comforting to know that through all this, there will be better days ahead. But responding to distress, sadness, anxiety,
and other “unpleasant” emotions with false positivity could actually do you more harm than good. So-called positive thinking can become toxic, or toxic positivity.
With children, toxic positivity can send a message that their negative feelings are not OK. It can influence how they develop and respond to emotions, how they express themselves, and may even impact how they behave as adults.
people’s feelings because they make you
What is toxic positivity? “Toxic positiv- ity is a belief that people should be positive in all areas and experiences, even the ones that are difficult or sad,” said Jerimya Fox, a licensed professional counselor and a doctor of behavioral health at Banner Behavioral Health Hospital in Scottsdale, AZ. “It can be directed toward yourself and to others.”
Experiencing pain, hardships, loss, and disappointment are a part of life – it is unavoidable. While we cannot prevent these experiences from happening, we can con- trol how we experience them. Do you lean into them, or do you try to avoid and escape them?
feelings or experiences.
“Everything isn’t OK, because they’ve had a loss,” Dr. Fox said. “Comments like this can really shut another person down and cre- ate a level of disconnect.”
Some signs of toxic positivity include:
• Hiding or disguising your true feelings.
• Feeling guilty or ashamed for feeling a cer-
It is natural to not want to deal with your negative emotions sometimes but doing so
Acknowledge all your emotions – both the peaks of happiness and the valleys of sorrow.
Recognizing the signs of toxic positivity is important, so you can create safer spaces for you and others to talk about genuine feelings.
tain way.
• Minimizing, dismissing, or shaming other
uncomfortable.
• Brushing off or ignoring your problems.
• Comparing or downplaying your problems
with others.
• Using feel-good statements for negative
If you have been affected by toxic positiv- ity or recognize the signs in yourself, there are things you can do to develop a health- ier, more supportive approach. Some ideas include:
Acknowledge your emotions.
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