Wednesday 06/05/2026
Photo: Katarina Wolnik Vera
Text: Nayeli Martínez
Beyond Diagnosis
When we talk about mental health, it is easy to think that the most important thing is to give a name to what we are experiencing. Have you ever felt that until you have a clear diagnosis, you cannot fully understand your distress? Although this can be helpful, focusing solely on the label simplifies a reality that is much more complex.
Psychological distress is not only a set of symptoms, but it is deeply connected to a person’s life history, context, relationships, and current life stage. This is clearly seen in clinical practice: two people can share the same diagnosis and still experience completely different realities. It is not the same to experience anxiety with a strong support network as it is to experience it in isolation or in a context of constant stress. That is why, in therapy, we do not only work with “what you have”, but with how you experience it and what meaning it has for you (Pérez-Álvarez, 2019).
Therapy as a Process
Psychotherapy is not a passive process. It is not about waiting for the professional to provide a solution, but rather a joint work. It is a space where, through dialogue, patterns of thought, emotions, and behaviors are understood, and new ways of coping with difficulties are built (American Psychological Association, 2023). It involves learning to understand oneself, manage emotions, ask for help when needed, and develop coping skills.
Moreover, there is no single way to intervene. Some approaches focus more on the present and on changing thoughts or behaviors, while others explore personal history and emotions in greater depth. Nevertheless, they all share the same goal: improving well-being and providing tools for the future. It is also important to understand that therapy is not immediate; in many cases, it requires time, especially when distress is deeper or long-standing (American Psychological Association, 2023).
The Weight of Labels
At the same time, it is important to be cautious with the weight of diagnoses. Sometimes, individuals may come to believe that they “are” their diagnosis, which can affect their self-esteem and their way of relating to others. This is compounded by the stigma that still exists around mental health (Mascayano et al., 2015). In reality, a diagnosis only describes part of a situation, and it risks overlooking something essential: the person is not their illness, but someone with a history.
Mental health is not something perfect or a label that defines you, but something that is continuously shaped and cared for every day. It is not a “magic treasure” that is suddenly found, but something that is gradually worked on. Above all, it goes beyond any diagnosis, because it does not define the person, but rather how they live and face their life. It is a process of understanding and accompaniment, where what matters is not only identifying the problem, but also understanding the story behind it and being able to move forward from there—seeing it as a starting point rather than an endpoint.
References:
- American Psychological Association (APA). (s. f.). Understanding psychotherapy and how it works. https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/understanding
- Mascayano, F., Lips, W., Mena, C., & Manchego, C. (2015). Estigma hacia los trastornos mentales: características e intervenciones. Salud Mental.
- Pérez-Álvarez, M. (2019). Diagnóstico más allá de los síntomas: un enfoque centrado en el mundo de la vida de las personas. Cuadernos de Psiquiatría Comunitaria.