Ten Negative Effects of Toxic Positivity

We all know that a positive outlook is important to living a healthy life. But some people go too far with it, always choosing to stay positive no matter what the circumstance. This has been clinically referred to as “positive thinking addiction” or just “toxic positivity,” It can have negative consequences for your mental health.

When you push emotions and reality away, they inevitably come back in more intense form. This is because we feel them subconsciously and attempt to bury them. Trying to avoid negativity only makes us more anxious, depressed and causes more uncertainty, which leads to feeling even worse.

Ten Negative Effects of Toxic Positivity

1. Focusing on the Positive Over the Negative

First off, not every moment of every day should be filled with positive energy. There is room for balance in life. Pushing aside what makes us upset or angry and never dealing with it keeps us from moving forward and growing as a person. It also causes stress and anxiety and then turns into depression when we fail to achieve those happy thoughts, which are ultimately a lie since reality is not so simple.

If you always maintain a positive outlook, you need to create a daily routine of coping skills. Accepting that you still have negative emotions and addressing them properly is sometimes the best way to feel positive overall.

For example, if you are angry at your partner for not doing dishes enough, try taking some deep breaths and giving yourself some time alone without feeling overwhelmed by your irritation. Then, please take a few minutes and think about why it matters so much not to do dishes all the time. What is the real issue? Is it laziness or just a busy schedule? Maybe it’s both, and you need to have a conversation with your partner about finding some compromise.

It’s difficult to focus on the positive when there are more negative things going on in your life that need to be addressed.

2. Interacting With Others on a Constant Positive Mood

Many people are givers and prefer to take care of other people’s social settings, especially if you are in a relationship.

At first, it might seem like a good thing to always be positive with others. When you’re mad at someone, it is normal for them to feel hurt or upset by your reaction. They may not realize how their actions affected you, especially if they have never experienced this emotion before. So you must be willing to take on their side as well and look for solutions together.

It’s also important to remember how it feels to be on the receiving end of someone else’s negativity. If you are critical or negative, whenever you feel the urge to lash out, try taking a few moments to step back and ask yourself: Do I want to speak in such an unkind manner? What am I trying to accomplish here?

If you give off negative vibes, it will become very contagious in turn. So it’s essential to be aware of your emotions and how you are treating others. Remember that every interaction impacts both sides, and your calmness helps them to relax as well.

3. Purposely Ignoring Your Problems

As mentioned before, it’s important not to run away from problems or emotions, but it is also true that letting problems control you is no way to live either.

Negative thinking often comes from fear or anxiety, and this type of positivity will only make those feelings worse.

Instead of focusing on your problems, try to focus on solutions. If you’re worried about something, take action and think of a way to fix it. If you have a presentation at work and you’ve been procrastinating on doing your research, sit down and get started!

This way of approaching problems helps to overcome them head-on. Focusing on the positive is all about telling yourself that things will be okay when things are not okay in reality. It’s always challenging to be positive, but it’s a choice you can make.

4. Making Others Feel Bad About Their Emotions

Many people tend to get uncomfortable or turned off when they see other people feeling negative emotions. They may believe that they have to keep everyone around them happy all the time and that it is their job to carry everyone else’s burdens for them.

I agree that it’s essential to take care of your own needs and focus on your happiness, but I don’t think you need to make someone else feel wrong about their emotions. If you have a sad or angry friend, try explaining to them why you can see their point of view.

Perhaps you just had a bad day at the office or home, and they could empathize with that too. It’s always important to be able to express how you feel without making someone else feel judged.

Be open and honest with your friend, and try not to think of their emotions as a burden that you need to carry for them.

5. Ignoring the Needs of the People Around You

Sometimes, it is challenging to focus on your emotions if other people around you are not mindful of their own needs.

Certain people believe that they have to make sacrifices for others’ sake and neglect their own emotions in favor of taking care of everyone else.

If you’re feeling hurt or upset, you must first understand where you are coming from and why. If this is indeed the case for you, then it’s time to start making your own needs a top priority. This might mean getting some help or talking with someone who can offer a new perspective.

6. Not Being Open to New Experiences

It’s commonly believed that living a positive life means living in the present moment and not thinking about any of your worries or anxieties. Of course, it’s always important to live in the present moment, but it also helps to plan for the future.

Your present moment might be harmful because you think of something negative that happened yesterday or last week. If you have a long-term goal, start planning for it. Don’t let yourself be consumed with your negative emotions and anxieties.

Start making some plans for the future, even if they don’t involve anything significant. Maybe you want to lose weight, or perhaps you want to take up a new hobby. Start planning for that goal by coming up with a plan for achieving it and then doing something about it! This is a great way to turn your negative emotion into something positive.

7. Not Admitting When You’re In Over Your Head

This is a widespread problem for people who are constantly feeling down, and it can also be widespread for those who are usually happy to feel this way. It’s important to recognize when you are over your head and need help.

It’s easy for you to blame yourself or think that you’re unable to do something because you can’t do it yourself. When you are in this mindset, it is your fears that stop you from getting help.

You are scared to ask for help because you don’t want other people to think negatively. You probably have been conditioned by society that asking for help is a sign of weakness. You might feel like it’s not okay for you to ask others for help because you’re independent and strong.

But the truth is, no one can do everything on their own — not even the strongest and most independent people out there. If you are in over your head, it’s okay to ask for help.

8. Can make you numb to the emotions of others.

When you’re always looking at the bright side and smiling without any sense of empathy, likely, you won’t feel any negative emotions. But this attitude can be dangerous because it causes people to lose a healthy perspective on others’ problems. Those who choose to be positive at all times are at risk of becoming desensitized to those around them. For example, people who always try to be optimistic may not know how to support others in need and may only say things that “feel good” rather than address the real issue head-on.

9. Make it difficult for you to seek help when you need it.

When you’re constantly worrying about being perceived negatively, it’s very easy to avoid seeking help when your mental health is in danger. People with toxic positivity often blame others and think that they’re the cause of their suffering. This creates an unhealthy mindset and prevents people from learning from their mistakes and confronting personal problems.

10. Makes you unable to accept negative emotions.

People with toxic positivity usually don’t feel emotions they don’t want to or are afraid of. As a result, they cannot accept emotions such as sadness, fear, anger, or anxiety. Instead of dealing with real problems and experiences, they push them away and pretend that everyone else is having the best time all the time.

Final Thoughts

Instead of always being positive, it is important to accept whatever emotions arise when life happens. While it’s great to have a positive attitude most of the time and bring that to your daily life, you also need a healthy way to deal with negative emotions – both on your behalf and for the sake of others.

Before you tell yourself and others that everything will be all right, take a moment to observe your own emotions – especially the negative ones! After all, it’s okay to feel down once in a while.

In the end, the solution is to continue focusing on one day at a time. When you adopt such a mindset, it makes the battle seem less daunting, and it gives you opportunities to examine your problem and confront and overcome your problems head-on—positive thinking in action.