Partnering with someone comes with a certain level of balance. While you may aim for general positivity, life will always have ups and downs.
In some cases, your spouse’s positivity may be what made them attractive in the first place, or they may have made some life changes and adopted a new level of positivity. In either case, there can be types of positivity that can damage your relationship and how you interact with each other.
These are a few ways that positivity can become toxic and damage your relationship.
Shaming negativity
There will always be days and moments that are better than others. Sometimes a dose of positivity can be supportive when you are going through a difficult time.
Toxic positivity, however, can become the opposite of support. Rather than encouraging a positive focus, someone with toxic positivity will make you feel bad about feeling negative emotions which can compound the situation. Not only are you feeling bad about a challenging situation, but a partner with toxic positivity may also make you feel bad about feeling bad.
The impact of toxic positivity
Those with toxic positivity often mean well, but the process tends to damage themselves and those around them. Your partner with toxic positivity may mean to be supportive. Still, shaming and covering negative feelings can make it difficult for you to be honest with each other.
When you cannot be honest with your spouse, it can create tension. You may also have difficulty dealing with your emotions since you are spending considerable time trying to hide them.
Dealing with toxic positivity
When your spouse suffers from toxic positivity, it can be a great deal of strain on your relationship. In some cases, the stress can lead to divorce.
Often, dealing with toxic positivity takes time and practice to learn to reframe and cope with negative emotions. You and your spouse may need to seek support for your relationship.