Competitive Sickness

October 21st, 2026

Writer: Nicolette Peremen

Editor: Sophia Wohl

We, as beings, thrive off of adrenaline. This overwhelming rush we experience–often of euphoria–pushes us through life’s hurdles by tricking our minds into believing that nothing else matters. This release of epinephrine is common under competitive circumstances, where there is often only one winner. Competition is human nature, but what happens when we are all fighting to be the worst versions of ourselves?

It comes as no shock that mental health discourse has gained more visibility in recent years, and while this is certainly a positive step forward, a troubling pattern has emerged: competitive sickness. This is especially true among more technologically adept generations. Conversations addressing psychological wellness, which should be filled with unconditional love and compassion, have increasingly become rivalries to see who is the most broken. Instead of fostering support and understanding, talks frequently escalate into comparison, invalidation, and reduction of self-worth associated with mental distress.

Mental health conditions are unique to each person, yet every individual’s story is constantly compared to the next, with one reigning supreme. This outrageous concept of being “sick enough” has taken root, particularly on our most prized platforms–TikTok and Instagram–where people feel the need to prove just how sick they are. This is especially evident in communities that discuss extreme incidents of poor mental health, where struggling individuals are pressured into proving that they are sick too, even if their story is not as drastic as the last. The implication is clear: those whose symptoms are deemed “less severe” might be dismissed or feel unworthy of support. The consequence? People downplay their struggles, delay seeking help, or even exaggerate their symptoms to gain recognition. Suddenly, mental illness has become something to showcase rather than something to heal from.

Social media has rarely done anything other than exacerbate the ongoing issue, though these platforms have allowed some users to share their struggles. In many cases, this can be cathartic and validating; however, other incidents suggest that these platforms have cultivated an environment where suffering is performative, rather than genuine. The more extreme the experience, the more likes and shares the post gets, further reinforcing a cycle where only the most dramatized narratives get attention. Viral trends sharing extreme scenarios can alienate those with milder, but still serious, conditions, leaving them feeling like they are undeserving of help.

Another manifestation of this competitive suffering is gatekeeping within mental health communities. Those with diagnosed conditions may dismiss others who lack a formal diagnosis. People with more severe symptoms may undermine those who have less extreme experiences, claiming they have not suffered “enough” to understand what it truly means to be mentally ill. This breeds an unhealthy divide, where instead of supporting one another, individuals feel the need to defend or justify their experiences. There is no reason why mental health should be a battleground, as opposed to a space for healing.

The toxic, competitive environment around mental health has fostered a belief among many that their condition cannot be “that bad.” This extreme and upsetting view has serious Consequences. When mental health is treated as a competition, it discourages people from seeking earlier help. This competitive framework also eats away at empathy, ultimately creating an institution of invalidation, rather than one of fostering relationships of mutual support. Not only is this unfair to the people most frequently dismissed, but it also perpetuates stigmas surrounding mental health.

To move the focus from competitiveness to authentic loyalty, we must recognize that pain is not a sport. Instead of asking, “who has it worse?” let us explore ways to help one another by sharing our unique and perfectly valid experiences. Instead of competing for an amorphous goal–being labeled the sickest person–we must dismantle competition and suffering from their pedestals and replace them with two things that are much more beneficial: support and recovery. Under these new circumstances, everyone can win.