Toxic Positivity as a Mask in Covert Narcissism

"Positivity is often framed as a person having an optimistic and realistic outlook on life, while simultaneously allowing space for all emotions-the good and the bad-to be identified and processed without resorting to defensive coping strategies such as avoiding, minimizing, or rationalizing felt experiences. Being positive does not mean you have "perfect" mental health. Rather, it suggests that you acknowledge moments of vulnerability, fear, anger, or sadness while giving yourself time and space to process and grow from these difficulties."

"Toxic positivity is based on maintaining a "positive" mindset that is unrealistic and unsustainable because it is based on denying negative emotions that are both necessary and adaptive. For example, ignoring or downplaying negative emotions does not eliminate them, but typically causes a rebound effect where repressed emotions resurface with greater intensity. A constant pattern of pushing away negative emotions often shows up as severe and chronic anxiety or physical stress in the body."

Covert narcissism is characterized by hypersensitivity, defensiveness, and hidden grandiosity. Toxic positivity is an excessive, shallow optimism that denies necessary negative emotions and prevents authentic emotional processing. Genuine positivity allows acknowledgment and processing of vulnerability, fear, anger, and sadness while maintaining realistic optimism. Denying negative emotions causes rebound effects, where repressed feelings resurface with greater intensity. Chronic suppression of negative emotions often manifests as severe anxiety and physical stress, increasing allostatic load. Elevated allostatic load can contribute to high blood pressure, gastrointestinal problems, inflammatory disorders, chronic fatigue, and cardiovascular disease. In covert narcissism, positivity can serve to manage vulnerability and maintain control.

Read at Psychology Today