Get the Support You Need

Learn from thousands of users who have made their way through our courses. Need help getting started? Watch this short video.

today's top discussions:

logo

Setting a Goal

Ashley -> Health Educator

2023-06-03 4:26 PM

Managing Drinking Community

logo

Question to Ponder...

Ashley -> Health Educator

2023-05-28 6:33 PM

Depression Community

logo

INFO on Champix, quit smoking medication

Ashley -> Health Educator

2023-05-19 4:23 PM

Quit Smoking Community

logo

Chewers-Dippers

Ashley -> Health Educator

2023-05-19 4:10 PM

Quit Smoking Community

This Month’s Leaders:

Browse through 411.670 posts in 47.015 threads.

159,177 Members

Please welcome our newest members: anon052023, smeyer00, babyswane, ashlie7222, ashlie722

Toxic positivity


11 months ago +3 11159 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 2

Hello everyone,

Being positive can be helpful in many situations. In fact, this program helps you to think more positively in order to help manage depression. However, expecting yourself or others to think positively in every situation can actually be harmful to mental health. It is normal for people to feel down sometimes and some situations are just hard and people should not be forced to look for the silver lining in all situations. Some examples of advice that contains toxic positivity:

  • "Ya, you have cancer but things could be much worse, at least you have a roof over your head."
  • "Happiness is a choice. You wouldn't be depressed if you were more positive."
  • "I'm sorry the love of your life just dumped you for someone else, but everything happens for a reason."


Toxic positivity can stop people from honestly communicating their natural feelings. Toxic positivity does not make people feel better, it often just shames them and makes them feel like their justifiable sadness is their fault.

Have you experienced toxic positivity? If so, how did you handle it?

How can you support someone without forcing toxic positivity?

Ashley


Reading this thread: