OPINION:
These days, feeling “not enough” has become almost a default state.
There is always something to improve: our mindsets, self-esteem, productivity, bodies or the way we relate to others. It seems that if we are not actively working on becoming a “better version” of ourselves, then we are somehow failing.
As a psychologist, I increasingly encounter people who carry a deeply ingrained belief: “Something is wrong with me.” We are not always talking about clinical disorders, but about sadness, insecurity, fear or uncertainty — ordinary human experiences.
Scroll through any social media feed, and you will quickly find messages urging you to think more positively, optimize your habits and constantly improve yourself. The underlying message is clear: If you are not doing so, then you are falling behind.
Psychology, however, does not start from the assumption that people are defective. It seeks to understand context, personal history and the factors shaping distress. When a disorder is present, intervention is essential. When it comes to everyday emotions, the aim is not to eliminate what is human but to understand it.
The problem arises when distress becomes a business. Parts of the self-help industry simplify complex processes and promise quick fixes, universal formulas and instant transformation. The more this message is consumed, the greater the sense of inadequacy it will generate.
Constant self-demand is not mental health. It is pressure, often disguised as personal growth.
Perhaps the problem is not that we are broken but that we have been taught to see ourselves that way.
Member, Spanish Association of Health Psychology
Valencia, Spain
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