The relentless social pressure to be happier can feel suffocating, especially during life’s challenging moments when striving for improvement feels not just exhausting, but cruel.
Even in moments of external positivity—like moving in with a partner—the expectation to be happy can lead to feelings of panic, suffocation, or worse.
Experiences that should bring joy, such as having a baby or starting a new job, can sometimes spiral into exhaustion or despair, contradicting societal expectations.
Telling ourselves we should be happier during difficult times can become a form of self-gaslighting, undermining our true feelings and instincts.
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