Why Is It Easy To Romanticize Mental Disorders?

You may have come across people on social media who frequently describe themselves as having various mental health conditions — even without a formal diagnosis. With self-diagnosis becoming a trend, this kind of behavior is becoming more and more visible online. However, while some people truly face mental health challenges, others may describe experiences that don’t necessarily align with clinical definitions.

But why would someone want to associate themselves with a serious mental illness even without being properly diagnosed, especially when society still stigmatizes it? The truth is mental health disorders have become increasingly romanticized. And there are some reasons behind it.

1. A part-seen picture

A life with mental health issues might sound like an intriguing narrative, but it’s important to remember that not every compelling story is pleasant to live through. This is especially true for individuals who act impulsively due to their conditions. For example, while you may feel exhausted by your routine job, a person with borderline personality disorder might change careers every few months. However, what often goes unnoticed is that, deep down, this person craves stability and suffers from its absence.

Popular culture can have a similar effect. For example, Cassie Ainsworth from Skins is mostly depicted as a mysterious, tender girl. Many viewers admired her dreamy detachment, whispered speech, and poetic sadness, often quoting her lines without fully realizing that her behavior stems from a severe, life-threatening disorder. At the same time, the harsher reality of living with anorexia is barely addressed in the series.

2. A way to relieve pain

In a culture of toxic positivity, many people feel they don’t have the right to experience negative emotions. As a result, those who openly express them can be perceived as more emotionally authentic, brave, or even attract attention in a world that often rewards emotional control.

In this context, a psychiatric diagnosis may appear to be an "official permission" to release one’s pain. This can be especially appealing to individuals who have experienced significant pain or even trauma in their lives but, for various reasons, never allowed themselves to fully feel or process it. However, instead of helping to process that pain, a wrong self-diagnosis can mislead a person about its true nature. Additionally, in online spaces, where personal stories often gain validation and resonance, the line between shared pain and self-labeling can become blurred.

3. A desire to belong

This may not be the most common reason, but it can be particularly significant for teenagers navigating a stage of life where rebelling against societal norms feels essential and the need for belonging becomes especially strong. Identifying with a mental illness can create a sense of inclusion within a so-called "chosen" group — one that, due to stigma, often faces misunderstanding and exclusion.

For many teens, this sense of belonging validates their emotions, even if they don’t have a diagnosed mental health condition. If you’ve ever spent time in online support chats for people with specific disorders, you may have noticed that some teens join not to claim a diagnosis but to talk about their deep sense of otherness. And while this kind of community can be comforting, it may also lead some to adopt an identity shaped by distress rather than one oriented toward healing or clarity.

Understanding these motives doesn’t mean endorsing them — but it allows us to create more thoughtful, supportive, and mentally honest spaces. Mental health deserves awareness, not aestheticization.