Toxicpositivity

We are two friends both with chronic and mental illness, who decided we wanted to bring to the forefront, and open up real conversations about, how we are coping with our diagnosises. We use humor, personal experiences and scientific studies with what can potentially help; has helped; and what we are willing to try to stay sane in the midst of what we’ve been saddled with by life.
We’re also doing this to try to end stigma, raise awareness as well as discourage toxic positivity and ableism to take more root in society.

We would love your support and also your input on what coping skills you all use- join the conversation! Follow us on instagram @ creative.copes and on your favorite listening platform and comment away! The more we talk, the more mainstream it will become.
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#keeptalking #jointheconversation #jointhefight #RealTalk #EndTheStigma #Raiseawareness #MentalHealth #physicalhealth #Ableism #Toxicpositivity #copingstrategies #CopingTips #beyourownadvocate #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #ChronicMigraines #ChronicVestibularMigraine #Fibromyalgia #GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder #SocialAnxiety #Agoraphobia #Dysautonomia #CrohnsDisease #Endometriosis #RaynaudsPhenomenon #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicFatigue #OccipitalNeuralgia #wecandothis #LetsDoThis

Pondering Toxic Positivity this morning and how many around me, friends and family, have responded with such when it comes to my #ChronicIllness . Is it a learned/generational/cultural/societal thing we grow into, I wonder? That the knee jerk responses are expressions where we encourage the avoidance of all negative emotions and deny, minimalize, invalidate authentic human emotions? (It can occur with oneself as well- that inner voice telling you “you should be grateful..” in situations where you’re upset. )
I can shrug it off because I am good with ‘It’s Okay to Not be Okay’, but I am curious now where it stems from..
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#Toxicpositivity #Ableism #ChronicPain #MentalHealth #Anxiety #CopingTips #Fibromyalgia #ChronicFatigue #Agoraphobia #PanicDisorder #GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder #Dysautonomia #chronicmigraine #Migraine

#Toxicpositivity #ComplexPosttraumaticStressDisorder

I'm watching the news my boyfriend puts on every morning, and three of the news persons were talking about "toxic positivity" and what it is, but they didn't really say more than a sentence or two about it, and then the woman newscaster said she'd rather have positivity, because negative people are "toxic," and one of the guys agreed, saying, "Sometimes you just have to remind yourself to smile!" 🤬 🤬 🤬 🤬 🤬

Yes, too much negativity is toxic, but that's true of positivity, too. Who doesn't want to feel positive? One of the problems with calling people toxic--and I'm guilty of it, too--is that, although they may seem like they don't want help (or they have stopped believing they can be helped), it's based on many things and isn't fully a choice (IMO, based on what I've seen, heard, read, watched, experienced, etc.). It can be a combination of things, including various things in your body/health, the way you were raised, experiences, influences, beliefs, trauma, rewards, diet, exercise, your life situation, and more.

I'm just saying, you can't just choose to feel an emotion. You can change things, do things, try to find a new perspective, but that's not DIRECTLY choosing happiness, as they say. I will concede it's INDIRECTLY choosing to attempt to be happy (because you can't know if it'll work).

#Depression
#Toxicpositivity

I'm curious about how you all feel about a daily gratitude practice? Does it help you to improve your mood or do you feel like it is just an extension of toxic positivity?

Sometimes I get annoyed by the idea that I have to find something to be grateful for. Some situations have no positives. Full stop. Ya I can distract with something else, but I think it's okay to feel those feelings when something truly awful happens. Forcing someone to look at the bright side feels minimizing, especially if you grew up in an environment where you weren't allowed to feel "negative emotions" like sadness, grief or anger.

That's just me, but I know plenty of others who journal daily and never miss the opportunity to find something to be grateful for.

If it works for you? Why?

If it doesn't? Why?

#Trauma #PTSD #CPTSD #Gratitude #Toxicpositivity

When you live with a health condition or disability, seemingly harmless phrases like “keep your chin up” or “look on the bright side” can actually be invalidating.

That’s why we want to know the reasons why “staying positive” isn’t always possible for you as a way to remind others that it’s OK to not be OK sometimes (and we shouldn’t feel bad about it!). Let's meet each other with empathy and understanding today. 🤗

#MightyMinute #mondaymood #MondayThoughts #Toxicpositivity #ChronicIllness #Disability #RareDisease #ChronicPain #Autism #Parenting #Cancer #MentalHealth #Anxiety #Depression #Fibromyalgia #RheumatoidArthritis #Migraine #InflammatoryBowelDiseaseIBD #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Recovery