issue 17// vol 47 opinions // no. 19

Toxic positivity is damaging
to our mental health

» A positive mental attitude is a more fitting solution for embracing the good and bad of life

Alexis Zygan
Staff Writer

 

positive mental attitude (PMA)

embraces an optimistic perspective on
life, as introduced by author Napoleon Hill
in his book Think and Grow Rich. Training
the mind for positive thinking improves
the quality of life, however, there exists a
community that pushes toxic positivity
by forbidding any negative emotions.
When on a personal development journey,
transforming a negative thought into a
positive one has shown enormous physical
and mental health benefits. This task can
be achievable through meditation and
self-reflection. At the same time, a PMA
recognizes that an array of emotions is part
of the human experience, and some days
we feel blue.

Humans are vulnerable. When
circumstances such as job loss, heartbreak,
and bullying occur, no good vibes reduce
the pain and sorrow. Toxic positivity is the
outcome of a dysfunctional relationship
with positive thinking; in contrast, a PMA
encourages believing in ourselves, staying
focused on goals, and developing resilience
so we can bounce back after taking time
alone or with a mental health specialist to
process emotions.

Toxic positivity is an unhealthy
coping mechanism that aims to escape any
negative feelings by repeating affirmations
and diminishing personal problems,
at the same time as not allowing space

for emotions such as sadness, grief, and
anxiety. Smiling feels incredible because
of the feel-good endorphins the brain
releases. So, when we feel blue, standing
in front of the mirror with a smile is a
natural antidepressant. That said, there is
such a thing as smiling depression. On the
outside, a person may appear giddy even
when they feel hopeless and lonely. Once
the persistent emptiness is acknowledged,

  

Photo by Arnaldo Fragozo

they can access mental health support from
a counsellor and psychiatrist.

Toxic positivity culture prevents
people with depression from ever reaching
the counsellor’s door on account of the
belief that positivity cures all affliction.

The community promoting toxic positivity
is not inherently harmful or spiteful. In
some cases, they are merely blissfully
ignorant to circumstances where positivity

Alberta and what army?

» The fight to sell oil

Matthew Fraser
Opinions Editor

 

hough Joe Biden has said unequivocally

that he does not support the Green
New Deal, he has chosen to piggyback the
Biden Plan on top of it. One of the ideas
included in this Biden plan was rescinding
the Keystone XL (KXL) permit. As the
vice president under former President
Obama, he was involved in denying the
pipeline effort six years ago; now in his
post-Trump presidency, he must redo what
was undone by the prior administration.
Other Canadian government officials have
acknowledged that this was telegraphed by
Biden during his campaign, yet somehow,
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney was
unaware.

Ina fascinating interview with

CBC, Kenney seems to have the foresight
to know that if this act of overturning
the KXL permit is allowed to stand
unpunished, environmentalists may soon
come after other Canadian pipelines like
Line 3 and Line 5. How exactly was it
that Kenney could not predict that any
incoming Democratic administration
would have access to the same levers that
former President Trump used to overturn

the decision made by Obama? Apparently,
this newfound wellspring of foresight and
thoughtfulness was untapped when Joe

Biden was campaigning on overturning the
KXL permit; it must have also been missing

when the on-again-off-again pipeline
triggered protests last year.

Now that President Biden has
rescinded with one pen what Trump did

with another, premiers from Saskatchewan

and Alberta have called on the federal

government to wage war with America
(or at least the Biden administration)
over the eight billion dollars spent on
construction and the $30 billion in
predicted lost revenues. Though these
numbers are serious and worth considering
in light of the economic hardship COVID
has garnered, the Alberta government
has stymied the improvements to its
medical system and doctor compensation
throughout the pandemic. They did this

 

is an impracticable solution, such as
after experiencing traumatic events that
restructure brain chemistry. When a
person responds with “good vibes only,”
or “think happy thoughts,” to a friend in
acrisis, their well-meaning comment is a
microaggression that further stigmatizes
mental illness. Chronic happiness, for
the sake of others, does not miraculously
balance serotonin.

There is a fine line between using
positivity to overcome negative emotions
through a positive mental attitude versus
using positivity to avoid negative emotions.
Even though self-help gurus preach how
our thoughts become our reality, the
intersection of trauma and mental illness
forms positivity barriers. If you are the
person always saying “cheer up, there is
nothing to be sad about,” to a mentally
ill friend, consider that the advice may
be doing more harm than good. It might
be more beneficial to offer your time by
letting them express their feelings. Then
afterwards, thank them for sharing and end
the conversation unless they specifically
ask for advice.

We need to stop using toxic positivity
as a method to avoid dealing with negative
emotions. Positivity can only mask so
much when it comes to uncomfortable
feelings. Admitting that we feel depressed
or anxious is healthy. Once we know where
we stand emotionally, we can work towards
feeling happier by setting goals and
building self-esteem.

to the point of petitioning the College of
Physicians and Surgeons to prevent the
mass resignation of medical professionals
in the midst of the pandemic. Would have
been nice to use that foresight and a billion
dollars to protect workers and health care
service providers in the first place.

Predictably, some First Nations
people queried have been overwhelmingly
supportive of Joe Biden’s decision, the
primary concern being voiced has been
about insipient environmental damage.
Ina too little too late effort to assuage
the public, TC Energy Corp announced
that it will use carbon neutral methods
and provide work for many First Nations
people. Had this effort been in place a
year to ago it may have had some impact
on persuading Biden and the Democratic
base, but as a last-minute scramble to make
sure that shareholders get their agreed
upon desserts, it is uninspiring to say the
least.

Unfortunately for Alberta and
Saskatchewan, PM Trudeau has put on his
best peaceful teacher voice to acknowledge
Joe Biden’s decision. It’s a shame the two
provinces have no army to enforce their
sanction wishes with.