Don’t be okay: Therapist explains mental health, toxic positivity and burnout culture

In today's workplace, Anxiety is whispered about, and burnout brushed aside as poor time management. So people mask themselves (Image: Pexels)

• The pressure to appear fine can harm mental health
• Social media and workplace norms fuel emotional masking
• Experts urge a shift from forced positivity to honesty

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The world thrives on hope and optimism. A hopeful outlook can carry you through tough times. But, somewhere, positivity has now morphed into performance. People are not merely encouraged to cope, they are expected to shine while doing so. The unspoken rule is: “Be fine, always.”

Optimism, of course, is no villain. But the burden it brings along can be taking a toll on people. Archana Singhal, Counsellor, Family Therapist, and Founder of Mindwell Counsel, tells Moneycontrol, “The modern world is hyper-connected and fast-paced, so it is perceived that one should always be fine.”

She adds, “Although optimism is good, the burden of being okay constantly may be emotionally draining and extremely lonesome.”

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In the fast-paced world, admitting stress can still feel like career sabotage. Vulnerability is confused with weakness. “Anxiety is whispered about, and burnout brushed aside as poor time management. So people mask themselves. They smile in meetings, deliver targets, post filtered holiday snaps, all while slowly falling apart. This results in emotional masking. People smile, act, and push despite struggling inside themselves,” Singhal explains. The trouble is, the mask sticks. The longer you wear it, the harder it becomes to take off.

Additionally, there is social media... the glossy parade of promotions, proposals and perfectly plated brunches. Manufactured images of success present impossible standards. “Ideas such as ‘everybody else is coping, why can I not?’ become common. Though the comparison is invalid,” says Singhal.

Singhal explains why the pressure to be fine is taking a toll on people’s mental health:

Emotional masking becomes the norm: When stress is hidden behind humour or hustle, feelings are suppressed rather than processed. Later, this emotional bottling up may spill into anxiety, depression or physical health complaints that cannot be solved by another motivational quote.

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Social media distorts reality: Social media reels create the illusion that others are permanently productive and cheerful. Comparing private struggles to curated feeds breeds guilt and self-doubt, deepening isolation rather than inspiring connection.

Workplace culture discourages honesty: In many offices, acknowledging burnout is seen as weakness, not humanity. Without open dialogue, employees push through exhaustion, eroding wellbeing and productivity in the long run.

Families rush to repair rather than listen: Loved ones often offer solutions before empathy. Yet being heard without judgement is frequently more healing than immediate advice. Emotional safety begins with simple listening.

Recovery is delayed by denial: “Emotional suppression cannot help to get rid of problems; it just prolongs the recovery,” Singhal warns. Pretending all is well may postpone collapse, but it rarely prevents it.

What is required, Singhal insists, is a cultural change; from forced positivity to emotional honesty. “People should be able to tell themselves that they are not okay today. They should not be judged or punished,” she says, adding, “ We need workplaces where rest is not rebellion. Homes where boundaries are respected. Friendships where “I’m struggling” is met with compassion, not discomfort.”

Being human was never meant to be a social media post. “It includes bad days, low energy and moments of doubt. The real strength, perhaps, lies not in faking resilience but in admitting fragility, and allowing yourself the grace to recover,” the expert says.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.