Certain feelings and behaviors might indicate that your generally sunny outlook is more toxic than, well, positive. One sign is that you feel the need to suppress your own negative emotions, Noah Kass, DSW, LCSW, a New York-based psychotherapist, told Health. You might also feel uncomfortable when other people express sadness, anxiety, anger, or fear. If someone comes to you to vent, your inclination may be to give advice or solve the problem rather than to be present and listen with empathy, Kass added. “If you frequently say things like ‘It’s going to be OK,’ ‘It could be worse,’ or ‘Look on the bright side’—especially when you, yourself, struggle with negative emotions—you may be avoiding genuine feelings,” Kass said. 

Burnout is a deep, persistent state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged work-related stress. Unlike regular fatigue, which can be fixed with rest, burnout lingers—it makes it hard to recover even after taking a break. Here’s what it might look like: “You feel increasingly tired, but you’re sleeping the same amount of hours,” says licensed psychotherapist Dr. Noah Kass. “You’re eating poorly and exercising less, you’re getting headaches, and having trouble focusing.”

When someone is clingy, it often stems from a place of insecurity, past trauma, or self-esteem issues, says Dr. Noah Kass, DSW, LCSW of Kass Therapy & Hypnosis. They may have developed an anxious attachment style as a child and are afraid of losing love. It causes them to latch on in their relationships to avoid feeling disappointed at another loss. These issues make them afraid of the relationship ending, which manifests in neediness, controlling, and toxic behaviors.

“When you believe you have no power over your life, you surrender control,” says Dr. Noah Kass, DSW, LCSW, Psychotherapist. “You assume that others, your past, luck, fate, or external forces determine your destiny. This belief makes you miss opportunities and avoid risks due to a lack of confidence.” He states that over time, this becomes a fulfilling prophecy. “If you believe you have no power, you will act accordingly — and remain powerless. Those with a victim mentality have an external locus of control, blaming others, while those with an internal locus of control take responsibility for their own lives.

The first step is showing up just once. After that, you need to motivate yourself to show up consistently. “Over time, the new habit will become automatic,” says Noah Kass, DSW, a psychotherapist in New York.

Dr. Noah Kass, DSW, LCSW, says having hard conversations that address issues like these in a friendship are essential. “It can prevent problems from worsening and clear up misunderstandings. It can help you let go of resentment. These conversations set boundaries, like how much time you give to the friendship or what behavior you will or won’t accept,” he explains.

Discovering your friend’s likes, dislikes, feelings and goals cements honesty, too. “Authentic conversations between friends build safety, trust, and respect,” says Noah Kass, DSW, LCSW, a psychotherapist. “Remind yourself that being honest gives your friend permission to be honest,” Kass adds. “In friendship, vulnerability is contagious and powerful.”

Hangry is a term that refers to feeling irrationally angry, irritable, or moody because you’re hungry. And it isn’t just an excuse to snap at your partner over something trivial—research shows it’s a real thing. Hanger is pretty common, says Noah Kass, DSW, LCSW, a licensed psychotherapist based in New York. “Stay away from food, and it becomes difficult to manage emotions and make rational decisions,” he says.