Toxic Positivity is forcing yourself – or others – to feel happy even when you’re not. It can present when someone pushes inauthentic happiness on you with undue optimism or cheeriness that may not feel supportive for what you are going through. This can lead to feeling numb, tuned out, or even wanting to turn off needed emotions.

The other form of toxic positivity can be self inflicted. You may tell yourself to be strong, to get through a situation, or that it isn’t a big deal because in reality it’s easier than being inundated with overwhelmingly raw or heavy emotions.

Psychologygroup.com identified these signs of Personal Toxic Positivity:

1. Hiding/Masking your true feelings
2. Trying to “just get on with it” by stuffing/dismissing an emotion(s)
3. Feeling guilty for feeling what you feel
4. Minimizing other people’s experiences with “feel good” quotes or statements
5. Trying to give someone perspective (e.g., “it could be worse”) instead of validating their
   emotional experience
6. Shaming or chastising others for expressing frustration or anything other than positivity
7. Brushing off things that are bothering you with a “It is what it is”.

Please join us for this episode as we explore toxic positivity, how it impacts us as empaths and things we can try to do to avoid this emotional trap!