1/ If someone is sad, anxious or otherwise distressed, it's *never* helpful to make light of their feelings or try to tell them everything is ok. Things are not okay for them
Most of what people call "toxic positivity" is just garden-variety insensitivity
thecut.com
Most of what people call "toxic positivity" is just garden-variety insensitivity
thecut.com
2/ But our language for emotional experience has become so debased that words like "insensitive" don't seem to cut it. Saying someone is insensitive packs no punch. We now have to ratchet it all the way to "toxic"
Which, paradoxically, also reflects the insensitivity of our time
Which, paradoxically, also reflects the insensitivity of our time
3/ Not only is it not helpful to make light of a person's pain, tell them everything is ok, look on the bright side, etc...
It is harmful. Not only are they still in pain, but now they have the additional pain of feeling alone and isolated and misunderstood in their pain
It is harmful. Not only are they still in pain, but now they have the additional pain of feeling alone and isolated and misunderstood in their pain
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