I’ve noticed over years of shrinkage… errrrrr… therapy that words can fly either or both directions when used by various people at various times.  For some folks, calling themselves or others things like nuts, whacked in the head, crazy, looney tunes, etc. is pejorative, cruel, insensitive or uneducated. For other folks, calling themselves or others things like nuts, whacked in the head, crazy, looney tunes, etc. is a way to acknowledge mental illness without getting to serious about it, affectionate, or amusing, etc. I’ve thought about it recently since I’ve seen stuff about it on the web more lately. For me, it’s situational.

I often refer to myself as nuts, whacked, crazier than a 14 dollar bill, and so on as a way to let off steam about mental illness and make it funny rather than sad.  I already know I respect me, so it’s no big deal. If I get too serious about it all, I feel worse.  I’m very well aware that this can give some folks the idea that mental illness has no serious side, or that I mean it in a negative way, so I don’t do it often in serious settings where I’m trying to communicate something about the seriousness of mental health issues.  Out in public, some folks get upset over it for one reason or another.  I thought about it for a while and decided that’s not something I am or need to be responsible for.  My focus is on what works for me.  I am nuts, whacked, crazy etc in some ways, at some times, and that’s ok.  I have to laugh about the whole mental illness thing sometimes so I don’t end up crying about it.

On the other hand, I very seldom call anyone or refer to anyone else as crazy, etc. unless I either know they take it the same way I do, or I know they will understand it’s a joke.  I do that because it’s important for me to show them that I respect them as a human being.  I do, whether anyone is mentally ill or not. I’ll call behaviors crazy and not bat an eyelash. People, not so much.

Now, I’m still working on the “I am” vs. “I feel” thing.  That’s another one that I feel (I am? lol!) can go overboard in either direction. I do find it amusing that the same folks that say “Life is shades of gray, not black and white.” are also insisting that I never say “I am” about feelings or negative things.  How black and white can you be there? hehe I’ll figure that whole thing out for myself in time.

What do you guys think about the whole crazy thing?

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 11th, 2008 at 11:17 am and is filed under mental illness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.