In a time of pandemic like this, amidst many social, economic and personal unrest, it is inevitable that you will not hear or say expressions such as: "Everything will be fixed", "It could be even worse" or "Look the positive side at least ”. It is true that the greatest achievement in life is to be happy, although happiness itself is defined differently by different people. However, experts warn us not to overdo it with the approach to positivity, as this feeling, when strengthened more than it should be, is likely to turn to its opposite and become toxic.
"Cultivating a positive mind is a powerful mechanism for coping with challenges, but toxic positivity stems from the idea that the best and only way to deal with a bad situation is to think positively and not talk about evil." told the Washington Post Natalie Dattilo, a psychologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "Toxic positivity stems from our tendency to underestimate negative emotional experiences and to overestimate positive ones."
With data showing that anxiety and depression, among other mental health problems, have risen to historic levels in recent months, rising toxic positivity could make the situation worse, experts say.
"By far the most common [phrase] is' It 's going to get better,'" Stephanie Preston, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, told the Washington Post. . You are closing the opportunity to see further. "
Dattilo added: "It is a problem when people are forced to look or be positive in situations when it is not natural or when there is a problem that legitimately needs to be addressed, which cannot be addressed if you do not deal with the fact that it is disturbing. "Denying, minimizing or devaluing these feelings through external pressure or your own thoughts can be unproductive and harmful."
The expert stressed that people judge themselves for the feeling of pain, sadness and fear, which then produces feelings like shame and guilt and this inhibits the process of healing, progress and problem solving.
There are several ways to address negative feelings without falling into toxic positivity, but the most important thing is not to normalize situations and not tend to look better than we really are. Research has shown that accepting negative emotions, rather than avoiding or denying them, may actually be more beneficial to mental health in the long run.
So it is okay to have a positive and optimistic approach and feel sad at the same time. We may feel sad, but that does not mean we do not see the future positively. It's ok not to be ok.
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