Join Derrick & Friends for "Dealing With Negative People!" with Warriors for Life (WFL)

Col (Ret) Mikel Burroughs
10 hours ago
3 min read

Join our Volunteer, Army Veteran & Peer Support Specialist/Supervisor Derrick Iozzio TONIGHT for "Forever Forward!" edition of Warriors for Life (WFL) Online, sponsored and presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV).

We are asking everyone to share who we are and what support that Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) is providing via WFL. If you know someone who is a veteran, first responder or a family member/caregiver, please ask them to join us for at least one meeting so they can learn more about what we do and how they can share their wisdom with others who may be able to learn from them.

TONIGHT's Topic: "Dealing With Negative People!"

Join Derrick and friends TONIGHT for a discussion about "Dealing With Negative People!" Let's Talk about mental health and how we can deal with people who are negative.

Negative people drain energy and significantly harm mental health by causing stress, anxiety, and depression, draining energy, lowering self-esteem, and disrupting your own positive outlook through emotional contagion, leading to burnout, poor sleep, and even impacting physical health due to increased cortisol and chronic tension. Constant exposure to negativity can rewire your brain, making you more prone to negative thinking, while toxic interactions can erode motivation and self-worth, creating a cycle of emotional exhaustion and insecurity.

How negativity affects your mental health:

Increased Stress & Anxiety: Negative interactions trigger stress hormones like cortisol, leading to chronic stress, fatigue, headaches, and even panic attacks, disrupting normal bodily functions.
Depression & Hopelessness: Feeling drained and overwhelmed by persistent negativity can foster feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and depression, making it harder to engage in daily activities.
Lowered Self-Esteem: Toxic individuals often use gaslighting or criticism, making you question your sanity and worth, significantly decreasing self-esteem and confidence.
Emotional Exhaustion: Negative people can be emotionally draining, leaving you feeling depleted and burned out, even when they aren't directly attacking you.
Contagion Effect: Negativity is contagious; you can internalize their complaints and cynicism, which physically changes your brain's neural pathways, making you more negative over time.
Physical Health Risks: Chronic stress from negativity can weaken your immune system and increase risks for heart attack, stroke, and sleep problems, as your body struggles to return to a resting state.

Signs of Negative Influence

Feeling consistently drained or irritable after interactions.
Internalizing their complaints or worries.
Experiencing heightened anxiety or sadness.
Developing a more pessimistic outlook yourself.

How to protect yourself:

Create Distance: Limit time spent with negative people or create emotional distance, remaining cordial but disengaged.
Set Boundaries: Guard your time and energy; avoid getting pulled into their drama or allowing them to steal your focus.
Recognize It's Not About You: Understand their negativity often stems from their own issues, not necessarily a reflection of you.
Use "Gray Rock" Method: Respond to toxic individuals with minimal emotional reaction (like a gray rock) to make them lose interest.
Prioritize Self-Care: Focus on your own mental and physical well-being, as this is crucial for resilience. .

How to Deal with Negative People?

Warriors for Life (WFL) Online "Forever Forward!" edition presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) — Thursday (TONIGHT), December 11, 2025, @ 4:30 PM PT, 5:30 PM MT, 6:30 PM CT, & 7:30 PM ET

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81682532691

Thank you,

Derrick Iozzio,

Army Veteran, Peer Support Specialist/Supervisor, Catch 22 Peer Support Founder, & Volunteer Facilitator, Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV)