Toxic positivity is the act of avoiding, suppressing, or rejecting negative emotions or experiences. This may take the form of denying your own emotions or someone else denying your emotions, insisting on positive thinking instead. Although setting aside difficult emotions is sometimes necessary temporarily, denying negative feelings long term is harmful because it can prevent people from processi
What Is Toxic Positivity? (Plain Language Explanation)
Toxic Positivity refers to a pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that many people experience. While it can be challenging, it's also well-understood and treatable.
Key Terms to Know About Toxic Positivity
- Symptoms: The specific ways toxic positivity shows up for you
- Triggers: Situations or thoughts that activate or worsen toxic positivity
- Evidence-based: Treatments backed by scientific research
- Comorbidity: When toxic positivity occurs alongside other conditions
3 Things Most People Don't Know About Toxic Positivity
- Toxic Positivity is far more common than most people realize
- Toxic Positivity is not caused by weakness — it has identifiable biological and psychological causes
- Most people with toxic positivity see significant improvement with the right support
Your Next Steps
Learning about toxic positivity is just the beginning. If you think you're experiencing toxic positivity, speaking with a mental health professional is the most valuable next step.