Repressing emotions can have repercussions on mental health, experts point out
Although the concept of “happiness” is, by definition, opposite to what the word “toxic” implies, experts point out that these two ideas can often go hand in hand. “Toxic happiness is this demand and expectation that we must always be happy, ignoring negative emotions and possible complexities of our daily lives”, explained the neuroscientist Daniel Gontijo, on Sunday 13th, during the Health and Wellness Summitpromoted by Estadao.
According to research conducted in 40 countries and published in the scientific journal NatureSocial pressure to be happy is associated with a decline in individual well-being, especially in countries with high levels of collective happiness. This “toxic happiness” often works on the basis of motivational speeches.
When expressing negative feelings, people are often confronted with “everything will be fine,” “nothing is by chance,” “I see good in this,” and other types of “positivity” talk that places suffering in place of choice. , and not as something that needs to be felt and addressed.
In an increasingly connected world, social networks exacerbate this pressure to be happy and ignore feelings that deviate from the ideal of happiness. Posts of happy moments and ‘perfect’ lives, within the famous ‘lifestyle‘, end up contributing to difficulty admitting and managing common feelings such as sadness, anger or frustration.
According to psychologist Daniel Gontijo, one of the speakers at the event Health and Wellness Summitthis creates a dangerous trap, since social networks present only a slice of reality, where people only show happy moments, hiding their vulnerabilities.
“People start to blame themselves and blame others for something completely natural, which is the feeling. Also, they start to wonder, ‘what if I lived like this?'” Gontijo said. “We are a social species, and emotions, even negative ones, have a function. Sadness, for example, signals that something is not going well and that perhaps we need help or time to reflect better on that moment,” he said. added the psychologist.
Maryana with Y, neuroscientist and precursor of HUMORAL intelligence, also sees toxic happiness as a danger to emotional well-being. “When we relentlessly seek happiness, ignoring negative emotions, we end up creating a suffocating pressure. It’s as if there is a constant need to please, to not have problems,” says Maryana.
It is important for her to understand that sadness, anger and other unpleasant emotions are part of the life process and that we must learn to manage these feelings without letting them consume us. “We must not remain in a bad mood, but recognize that he also has something to tell us.”
Another common problem associated with “toxic happiness” is the influence of “gurus” and public figures who promote a distorted view of emotional well-being. These individuals, as experts point out, tend to reinforce the idea that happiness must be a constant reality and promote ready-made solutions for an always positive life, but often with commercial motivations.
“There is a lot of pseudoscience and dangerous false myths spread on the Internet. These people pose as gurus, promising unshakable happiness, wealth, professional success, but they do not show their weaknesses behind the cameras,” underlined Gontijo, who is the founder . of the Ponto Azul Institute (IPA).
According to experts, instead of ignoring feelings classified as “bad”, we need to examine them more carefully. Although happiness does not have a “script”, hiding these negative emotions implies a false well-being. In some cases it may also be necessary to seek medical help.
“If this sadness is very frequent, intense and impacts our social roles, work, romantic relationships or even basic things like having fun, eating or sleeping, we need to seek professional help. This should not be seen as weakness, but as something to which we are all subject,” Gontijo emphasized.
“Health and Wellness Summit – Has the Future of Health Arrived? It will take place today and tomorrow, the 14th, from 8:00 to 18:30, in the JK Iguatemi Shopping Event Space, in Sao Paulo. To register, go to this connection.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
