The Dark Truth About People Who Tell You to ‘Just Cheer Up’

I used to hate these people. Then I realized what was really going on behind their smiles.

Photo by Bucography on Unsplash

They sit across from you at dinner parties. They’re in your family WhatsApp group. They show up in your Instagram comments with toxic positivity that makes you want to throw your phone out the window.

“Just cheer up!”
“Think positive!”
“It’s all in your head!”

I used to want to scream at these people. Now I just feel sorry for them.

Here’s what I learned after spending years battling mental illness and dealing with the “just cheer up” brigade:

These people aren’t actually trying to help you. They’re trying to protect themselves.

Let me explain.

The Hidden Terror Behind Toxic Positivity

When someone tells you to “just cheer up,” what they’re really saying is:

“Your pain makes me uncomfortable, and I don’t know how to handle it.”

These people aren’t monsters.
They’re not even bad friends.