Are you familiar with the term "toxic positivity?" It's becoming more and more popular in the mental health community, and for a good reason.
Toxic positivity is when we deny or suppress our emotions or experiences to maintain a positive persona. It can also take the form of someone else rejecting our emotions, insisting that we "just stay positive" during distressing times when what we need is for our emotions to be validated.
And while it's important to have a positive outlook on life, denying our negative emotions can have serious consequences.
For one, it can lead to emotional invalidation. This is when we feel our emotions are not valid or worthy of being expressed. We might start to believe that we're "crazy" for feeling the way we do, which can lead to further isolation and feelings of shame.
It can also lead to emotional dysregulation or the inability to manage our emotions effectively. When we stuff down our negative emotions, they have a way of coming out in other ways, often in unhealthy or destructive behaviors.
And lastly, denying our emotions can prevent us from resolving them and overcoming our distress. If we don't allow ourselves to feel and process our emotions fully, they will likely come up again in the future, often at inopportune times and more intensely.
So next time you're feeling down, instead of pushing those emotions away, try to sit with them and explore what they might be telling you. It's okay to maintain a positive attitude or set aside difficult emotions, such as during adverse times, as long as you don't repress or ignore them indefinitely.
If you're struggling to find healthy ways to validate and process your emotions, consider reaching out to a mental health professional who can help guide you through the process. Therapy can be incredibly powerful for exploring and resolving our emotions in a safe and supportive environment.
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