Toxic Wellness Culture: Redefining Wellness for Ourselves

Toxic Wellness Culture: Redefining Wellness for Ourselves

Wellness culture is toxic. That might sound harsh, but it’s a reality we need to confront. While the term "wellness" may have started with good intentions, its impact has become increasingly concerning. Over time, wellness has been co-opted to promote agendas that often contradict the very essence of what it means to be well.

As a professional counselor and academic, I’ve spent years studying wellness and developing my own understanding of it. I’ve also had to actively resist the harmful narratives that wellness culture perpetuates. This blog is an invitation to critically reflect on what we accept as "wellness" and to create our own definitions—ones that are authentic, inclusive, and empowering.

What Is Wellness?

Wellness is not a one-size-fits-all concept. It’s deeply personal and multifaceted. Below are six perspectives to help you redefine wellness for yourself:

1. Wellness is striving for a deeper understanding of self.
   Wellness is not about self-improvement or chasing perfection. In fact, the start of a wellness journey might feel uncomfortable as it brings up unresolved emotions or challenges. Self-improvement can be a by-product of wellness, but it’s not the goal.

2. Wellness acknowledges and develops multiple areas of the self.
   We are complex beings with many roles and identities. I am a woman, mother, counselor, artist, and so much more. Your wellness goals will look different from mine because your roles and identities are unique to you.

3. Wellness is a pursuit of holism and integrated expression.
   It’s about understanding the different parts of your life and how they fit together. What makes you feel complete? How do your mind, body, and spirit connect? Wellness is about finding harmony among these pieces.

4. Wellness is individualized health.
   Health and wellness cannot be defined by someone else’s standards. Toxic wellness culture often ties wellness to physical appearance or diet culture, but true wellness is not about meeting external expectations.

5. Wellness is a balancing act, not a fixed state.
   It’s not about achieving perfect balance but finding a sustainable range that works for you. Wellness is dynamic and ever-changing.

6. Wellness considers all aspects of life.
   Emotional, spiritual, physical, intellectual, environmental, social, financial, and occupational wellness are all interconnected. Toxic wellness culture often pressures us to "fix" every area, but true wellness is about making choices that feel right for you—not meeting arbitrary standards.

The Harmful Messages of Toxic Wellness Culture

Wellness culture has taken a dangerous turn, promoting unrealistic ideals and harmful messages. Here are some of the most concerning aspects:

1. The Blame Game

Wellness culture often implies that if you’re not "well," it’s your fault. It suggests that with enough discipline, anyone can achieve perfect health. This narrative ignores systemic barriers, such as access to resources, and places an unfair burden on individuals.

I’ve experienced this firsthand. For years, I was told my health issues were due to my diet or lifestyle. The shame and self-blame were overwhelming, and it took me a long time to realize that this mindset was not only unhelpful but harmful.

2. The Role of Diet Culture

Diet culture is one of the most pervasive and harmful aspects of toxic wellness culture. It upholds fatphobia, equates thinness with health, and promotes restrictive eating habits. This not only damages physical health but also erodes self-esteem and mental well-being.

Diet culture sends the message that being thin is synonymous with being healthy, attractive, and disciplined. It pressures individuals to conform to unrealistic body standards, often at the expense of their mental and physical health. This narrative is not only false but also deeply harmful, as it perpetuates shame and disordered eating behaviors.

Barbara Ehrenreich’s book Natural Causes offers a thought-provoking critique of wellness culture, including its obsession with diet and exercise. While I don’t agree with everything in the book, it challenged me to think critically about the dangers of over-focusing on health and the toxic messages diet culture perpetuates.

3. Distrust of Modern Medicine

Another troubling aspect of wellness culture is its distrust of modern medicine. While it’s true that the healthcare system has its flaws, wellness culture often promotes the idea that we can "heal" ourselves without medical intervention.

This narrative can be dangerous. While proper nutrition and holistic practices are valuable, they are not substitutes for necessary medical care. It’s important to strike a balance between advocating for holistic health and recognizing the benefits of modern medicine.

4. The Credibility Problem

Wellness culture often elevates celebrities and influencers as "experts," regardless of their qualifications. These individuals promote wellness trends—diets, exercise routines, supplements, mental health advice—without the education or experience to back their claims.

As someone who talks about wellness, I want to be transparent. I am an athletic built, white woman, and I recognize that my appearance might make some people more likely to listen to me—or dismiss me. But my qualifications come from over a decade of education, research, and professional experience in psychology, mental health, and creativity.

I encourage you to critically evaluate the sources of wellness advice. Don’t discount someone’s perspective just because they lack formal credentials, but also don’t blindly trust someone because they have a large following or meet conventional beauty standards.

Moving Toward Authentic Wellness

So, where do we go from here? How do we move away from toxic wellness culture and toward a more balanced, inclusive approach?

1. Define wellness for yourself.
   Reflect on what wellness means to you and what makes you feel whole. Your definition doesn’t have to align with anyone else’s.

2. Embrace imperfection.
   Wellness is not about achieving an ideal state. It’s about finding what works for you in the moment and being okay with the ebb and flow of life.

3. Seek credible sources.
   Be mindful of where you get your wellness advice. Look for individuals who are transparent about their qualifications and who prioritize evidence-based practices.

4. Advocate for systemic change.
   Wellness is not just an individual pursuit—it’s a collective one. Advocate for policies and practices that make wellness accessible to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.

A Final Note

This blog is only a brief introduction to the topic of toxic wellness culture. I know I’ve likely overlooked important aspects, perhaps even due to my own privilege. Wellness is a deeply personal and multifaceted concept, and I don’t claim to have all the answers—or even a clear solution.

What I do know is that I don’t want anyone to stop doing what works for them. If certain practices make you feel better, healthier, or more connected to yourself, that’s wonderful. My goal is not to discourage self-improvement or personal growth. Instead, I want to challenge the idea that our worth or value is tied to meeting someone else’s standards of wellness.

Wellness should be about what feels right for you—not about conforming to societal expectations or chasing an unattainable ideal. It’s okay to feel lost in this conversation; I do too, sometimes. But I believe that by questioning the narratives we’ve been given and creating space for critical reflection, we can move toward a more inclusive, compassionate, and authentic understanding of wellness.

FREE Wellness and Creativity Course

If you’re curious to dive deeper into these ideas, I’ve put together a free course that explores wellness theories and how they intersect with creativity (because, let’s be honest, creativity makes everything better).

Originally, this course was part of a paid program I designed, but as I started questioning the wellness movement, I couldn’t shake the icky feeling that I might be contributing to toxic wellness culture. So, I decided to offer this course for free as a way to promote authentic wellness without adding to the problem.

And don’t worry—it’s not one of those “free” things that leaves you hanging and then asks you to pay for the real answers. Nope, this one’s genuinely free. Full disclosure, I do sell other courses, so if you stumble across something else I offer and think it’s interesting, great! But this course on wellness theory? 100% free, no strings attached.