Why 'Getting Over It' Is Trending As Americans Seek Emotional Resilience
Why Getting Over It Is Trending As Americans Seek Emotional Resilience...
Searches for "how to get over it" have surged in the U.S. this week as workplace stress, economic uncertainty, and political divisions leave many struggling to move past emotional setbacks. The trend reflects a growing national focus on emotional resilience amid what psychologists call a "collective stress hangover" from pandemic-era disruptions.
Google Trends data shows a 240% spike in related queries over the past seven days, with particular interest in letting go of resentment (up 180%) and workplace grudges (up 155%). The timing coincides with February's peak season for job changes and relationship reevaluations, according to LinkedIn and Match.com analysts.
Dr. Alicia Clark, a Washington D.C.-based psychologist, notes her practice has seen a 30% increase in patients seeking coping strategies since January. "People are realizing that holding onto anger about layoffs, failed negotiations, or personal conflicts is costing them mental energy," she told Reuters on Thursday.
Corporate America is responding. Salesforce recently added "emotional closure" workshops to its employee development program after internal surveys showed 62% of staff struggled to move past workplace conflicts. Similar initiatives have launched at Microsoft and Bank of America this quarter.
The trend carries financial implications. The U.S. coaching industry grew 6.2% last year to $1.56 billion, with "letting go" becoming the third-most-requested service behind leadership training and productivity, IBISWorld data shows.
On social media, TikTok's #GetOverItChallenge has garnered 420 million views this month, featuring users sharing tangible steps they took to release resentment. Meanwhile, Simon & Schuster reports pre-orders for psychologist Dr. Susan David's upcoming book "Emotional Agility" have doubled since mid-February.
Economic factors may be accelerating the trend. With 64% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck (LendingClub data) and mass layoffs continuing at tech firms, experts say financial precarity makes emotional resilience more urgent. "When people feel economically vulnerable, they can't afford to carry extra emotional weight," noted NYU behavioral economist Dr. Jonathan Parker.
The White House appears to have noticed. A newly proposed mental health initiative includes $75 million for workplace resilience programs, marking the first federal recognition of "emotional closure" as a workforce development issue.
For those seeking immediate strategies, therapists emphasize three evidence-based approaches: structured reflection (writing down lessons from painful events), cognitive reappraisal (reframing situations positively), and behavioral activation (physically symbolizing release through actions like shredding old documents).
As Stanford psychologist Dr. Kelly McGonigal told NPR this week: "2026's great skill isn't avoiding pain—it's recovering from it. That's what 'getting over it' really means."
