We know it has been a really difficult year for all of us because of this pandemic. However, one good thing that has come out of all this is that mental health is being spoken about more openly and frequently. This week we are taking a look at the topic of toxic positivity, what it means exactly and why it is so harmful.

Toxic positivity basically means ignoring the “bad” and focusing on the “good.” That sounds like good advice, right? Well, it’s not. Psychologists are warning that this trend of putting a happy spin on things is not healthy. All our emotions are valid and that means the unhappy ones too. We should be taking time to process all emotions and not dismiss them.

Social media plays a big part in this issue. When you go on Instagram, or whatever platform you use, you see so many pictures of people “living their best life.” You rarely see pictures of people showing themselves crying or having a sad day. We need to remember that most people won’t post about their troubles. The tendency is to show what you are happy about. It is an edited, filtered version of real life.

If you are unable to deal with your feelings and your social media is just making you feel worse, then I suggest coming off it for a while and focusing on yourself. Do what you need to do to feel better and don’t bury your feelings of anxiety, depression or whatever you are feeling. Speaking to a professional might be the answer, you need to find what works best for you. Never lose hope.