August 05, 2020

The Dangers of Toxic Positivity, Signs of Gaslighting + Tips on What NOT to Say to Someone Who is Grieving with Therapist Whitney Hawkins Goodman

46 minutes

We have all heard the phrase “look on the bright side” at least once in our lives. And yes, sometimes we do need those little reminders to be positive: “stop and smell the roses”, “things will get better” and the “remember, the glass is half full”. But what happens when these reminders become toxic? What happens when positivity shuts down, rather than opens up, the path to healing? In this podcast, I talk with licensed marriage and family therapist Whitney Hawkins Goodman about the dangers of toxic positivity, the relationship between toxic positivity and gaslighting, how to be truly empathetic, the power of learning how to listen and how to comfort someone who is grieving.

Read the show blog here: https://drleaf.com/blogs/news/the-dangers-of-toxic-positivity-signs-of-gaslighting-tips-on-what-not-to-say-to-someone-who-is-grieving-with-therapist-whitney-hawkins-goodman

For more info on Whitney visit her website: www.theccc.miami

Her online store: https://sitwithwhit.mykajabi.com/store

Whitney's Instagram: @sitwithwhit

Whitney's Facebook: @sitwithwhitney

**Special offers from this episode's sponsor:

SEED (the best company for a healthy gut!): Visit https://seed.com and use code MENTALMESS for 15% off your first month of the Daily Synbiotic

Podcast Highlights

1:42 Why Whitney thinks it is important to talk about our emotions and mental health

2:40 What is toxic positivity?

13:30 How can you train yourself to become more aware of your intentions?

14:55 What is the difference between shame and guilt, and what do they have to do with toxic positivity?

17:31 What is gaslighting?

19:11 Gaslighting and racism

21:34 How to help someone who is grieving

Additional resources:

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-Visit my website at https://drleaf.com for more free resources, tips, and tools to help you improve and heal your mental health!

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By Dr. Caroline Leaf

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