Podcast 359: Toxic Positivity: What it sounds like, why it's toxic, and what to say instead

Sign up to Patreon to get access to bonus ad-free podcasts, exclusive downloads, live Q&As and more: https://www.patreon.com/drcarolineleaf EPISODE DESCRIPTION: In this podcast I talk to therapist and author Whitney Goodman about her new book on toxic positivity, why good intentions are sometimes not good enough, and more! As Whitney notes in her new book, toxic positivity tends to shut down conversations, and often stops people from truly connecting—especially when it comes to the hard “stuff” we all face as we lives our lives. Even if someone is just trying to be nice by saying things like “everything happens for a reason” or “remember, the glass is half full”, the person sharing their pain and struggles can feel silenced by these seemingly innocuous platitudes. It can make the person struggling feel like their distress is making the other person uncomfortable or scared, which often feels like rejection. Read the show blog here: https://drleaf.com/blogs/news/toxic-positivity-what-it-is-how-it-hurts-what-to-say-instead Get her book here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673005/toxic-positivity-by-whitney-goodman/ OFFERS FROM OUR SPONSORS: - BetterHelp: Cleaning Up The Mental Mess listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com/drleaf . -The Melanie Avalon Biohacking Podcast: Visit MelanieAvalon.com for episode lists and transcripts, and search for The Melanie Avalon Biohacking Podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! You can also join her Facebook groups and follow her on Instagram – just search for Melanie Avalon. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 3:55 How toxic positivity can affect our relationships 4:30 Why good intentions are often not enough 6:00, 11:40 Why positive affirmations aren’t a “cure-all” 8:00, 20:00 Why we shouldn’t suppress uncomfortable emotions 14:30 Why the concept of toxic positivity has gone “viral” 16:20 How shame can affect our mental health 17:50 The dark side of self-improvement & self-help 24:00 How toxic positivity can show up in our communities 29:30 How to complain better 33:00 Why we can’t fix other people 35:20 Toxic positivity & feeling in control 38:00 Toxic positivity & motivational conferences Get my new book Cleaning up Your Mental Mess here: https://www.cleaningupyourmentalmess.com Download my new and improved brain detox app here: https://neurocycle.app Get a free Cleaning up Your Mental Mess workbook when you subscribe to my weekly email at drleaf.com ! ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: -Visit my website at https://drleaf.com for more free resources -Instagram: @drcarolineleaf: https://www.instagram.com/drcarolineleaf/- -Facebook: Dr. Caroline Leaf: https://www.facebook.com/drleaf -Twitter: @drcarolineleaf: https://twitter.com/DrCarolineLeaf -Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/drcarolineleaf *DISCLAIMER: This podcast and blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. We always encourage each person to make the decision that seems best for their situation with the guidance of a medical professional. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.