Is it normal to want to have a mental illness?
It can happen to wish you had a mental illness, often because you want an explanation for how you feel or hope people will take your struggles seriously. The illness itself can be painful, but the need for support is real either way.
You might be hoping for a name for what you’re going through, permission to ask for help, or proof that your struggles count. Lots of people feel unsure whether they’re “struggling enough” to deserve support—but you don’t need a diagnosis to deserve care, or to talk to someone about what’s been hard.
It may help to ask yourself what you imagine having a diagnosis would change. If you’re feeling lost, overwhelmed, or unseen, you can tell someone you trust or a mental health professional exactly that, without needing to label it first.