Psychology explained in simple words.

If you start sneezing one morning, you'll probably wonder what's going on. A sneeze on its own can have many explanations. But if you also have a cough, sore throat, and general malaise, the combination of symptoms starts to give you more information.

Something similar happens with our emotional health. Feeling sad doesn't necessarily mean having depression. Sadness is a human emotion and can appear as a response to losses, changes, disappointments, or difficult times.

However, when sadness persists and is accompanied by other signs, such as frequent tiredness, loss of interest in activities you previously enjoyed, changes in sleep or appetite, difficulty concentrating, or feelings of hopelessness, it is important to pay attention.

It's not just about an isolated emotion, but about the set of symptoms, how long they last, and how they affect your daily life.

Does being sad mean having depression?

Diana Trejos, Psychologist

CONTEXT IS IMPORTANT

Did you know that the same psychological disorder can manifest itself differently depending on a person's culture, age, gender, or social context?

The way we experience and express psychological distress does not occur in a vacuum. Culture, age, gender, social context, economic conditions, and other factors can influence how certain symptoms appear, are interpreted, and are even communicated.

For example, one person may express their discomfort primarily through sadness or worry, while another may do so through irritability, isolation, exhaustion, or even physical discomfort.

Gender can also influence which emotions we learn to show, which we tend to hide, and when we seek help. Societal expectations about how a woman or a man “should” behave can cause some symptoms to manifest differently or even go unnoticed.

Other variables also come into play: economic status, job stability, access to housing, caregiving responsibilities, migration, support networks, discrimination, environmental safety, and access to healthcare. All of these can influence both the distress experienced and how a person understands it and seeks support.

This can make assessment and diagnosis more complex.

Therefore, in psychology, it is not enough to simply identify a list of symptoms. We also need to understand who the person is, what their history is, and what their living conditions are.

The DSM-5 includes the Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) precisely to explore how a person understands what happens to them within their own cultural and social context.

Assessing mental health is not just about identifying symptoms. It also involves understanding how culture, gender, economic conditions, and the social environment shape each person's experience.

Understanding the context is also part of understanding the person.

Diana Trejos | Psychologist

I took the practical driving test four times in the Netherlands

And I discovered that obtaining a license can also become an emotional process.

I'm not going to say that driving always made me feel completely safe. It wasn't like that. I could also feel insecure behind the wheel. But I knew how to drive, and I drove.

 My job took me all over Costa Rica many times, from north to south and east to west. I drove long distances, crossed mountains, forded rivers, navigated endless lines of cars, potholed streets, rain, traffic, unexpected events, and that certain chaos that, for those of us who have driven in Costa Rica for years, ends up becoming part of everyday life.

And everything was going well.

Then I arrived in the Netherlands.

Everything was different: different rules, a different driving culture, and a different way of driving. Although I passed the theory test on the first try, I had to repeat the practical exam four times.

 With each attempt, the stress, anxiety, and insecurity grew, until I began to doubt something I had done for almost 20 years: driving.

Sometimes I would arrive home crying after school.

Only those who have gone through several attempts know how emotionally burdensome it can be to try again.

Finally getting my license was a huge joy. But the process taught me something that goes far beyond driving: when we fail repeatedly, we can start to mistake a result for our own worth or ability.

Anxiety, frustration, and the fear of failing again can accompany us to the next attempt and make us doubt even things we know how to do.

A result does not define your ability.

Trust also needs to be rebuilt.