Dec 22 2008
Crazy is NOT a Type of Mental Illness
Hello, fellow dark passengers. Welcome to our first Mental Monday. (And for anyone checking in for vampy goodness, vampires have been moved to Fang Bangin’ Fridays…don’t ask about the name; I didn’t come up with it.)
Anyhow, I thought we would start off slow in this topic since the subject matter can get sort of dark and heavy…and tomorrow will probably end up a little on the intense side so something on the lighter end of the spectrum might be in order today. Now sure, I could phone it in by talking about all those little annoyances that make us mental. Or I could pick the most unusual phobia I can find to discuss.
But I won’t.
Today I’d like to discuss the difference between being crazy and having a type of mental illness. Contrary to popular belief, they really aren’t the same thing. Having a mental illness doesn’t make someone crazy, just as being crazy doesn’t necessarily mean one has a mental illness. It’s a sad fact how many people out there refuse to seek treatment for their mental illness for fear of the negative stigma that comes along with it.
You may be asking yourself what the difference is. You may also be asking yourself why I’m qualified to talk about this. Well, I’ll tell you. I have a completely clean bill of mental health yet I’m totally and completely nuts. And the guys in the picture? They aren’t mentally ill either. They too are just plain bonkers. (Yes, that is the Big Boy they’ve got sandwiched between them.)
Here’s the difference, at least as I see it. People who suffer from a type of mental illness have an imbalance to their brain chemistry; they behave the way they do because of those chemicals. Those who are crazy, well, they’re the ones who suffer from no mental illness and still behave in ways most “normal” people would not…sort of like taking pictures with the Big Boy and pretending to pick his nose.
Hmm…I’d better stop talking about them posing with the Big Boy because I’m beginning to doubt their sanity less and less…
Let’s go with a new example. You know how we might call someone crazy who walks around talking to themselves - and occasionally answering - crazy. However, an unmedicated schizophrenic might believe they are talking to an actual person. If you’ve seen ‘A Beautiful Mind’ then you’re familiar with this concept. Now, when I’m alone, be it in public or otherwise, I frequently talk to myself. I answer, too. So am I crazy or do I suffer from a mental illness? Do I have schizophrenia?
As I said, clean bill of mental health. I even specifically asked about that one since there’s no shortage of voices in my head at any given moment. Probably the fact I was cognizant enough to realize my behavior was odd should have clued me in to the fact I didn’t need to be treated for mental illness. Apparently, when I’m working on the dialogue for one of my novels, I don’t always realize when I’m running the lines aloud as opposed to inside my head.
That, my friends, is crazy. I admit it freely. Doctors could drug me up from here to oblivion and I would still be an insane crazy person, doing crazy things on a daily basis. But if you were to give the same pills to a mentally ill person? Yeah, they’d probably stop picking things up off the floor with their feet because they’re too lazy to bend over. (Yeah…I’m really that lazy.)
And now that I’ve revealed the depths of my lunacy, it’s time to highlight a group of people who might be battier than I am. (I use that term loosely, of course.) This one goes out to all the Olfactophobiacs out there. Yep, this week’s blog is being dedicated to all the men and women who suffer from the uncontrollable fear of smells or odors.
So anyone who might be in my little crazy boat with me, just remember you can always say, “Well, yeah, I might talk to myself, but at least I don’t have olfactophobia!” And this is Dr. Jen of Crazy Town (just southwest of Funky Town) reminding you…
“Let your dark passenger come out to play…Be your own nemesis!”
Please note: Olfactophobia , also known as osmophobia, may seem funny on the surface, but to those who suffer from this phobia it is no laughing matter…
Ha! You’re cracking me up.
Okay, I’m going to make a wild and out there suggestion for ya here…maybe you should take a look at why you’re attracting all the loons your way. I mean, you do know the true definition of insanity, right?
Of course, I’m married to one of the guys muggin’ down with Big Boy in the picture so I guess I shouldn’t throw stones from the inside of my glass house, huh?
You have been nominated for a Lemonade Award
http://unorthodoxchef.today.com/2008/12/23/the-unorthodox-chef-announces-lemonade-award-winners/
I’m so crazy I’ve given you an award!
Okay, so maybe that just means I have good taste…
http://shakespearemom.today.com/2008/12/23/have-some-lemonade/
hi I was wondering if you could help me I have never spoken about this. I need to know what’s going on and why I do some of the things I do. I’m a little scared I might have mental health problems. From since I was a teenager I have always done this, I don’t know if I’ll explain very well so just bare with me. Ok here it goes. I always nearly everyday talk to myself I have never heard a voice in my head or anything weird like that. But whati do is act out situations and make them turn out the way I would like them to.For example I’ll pretend I’m going for a night out and walk around my room as if it’s a club and pretend I look good and a guy is watching me I’ll talk to a wall or a door and pretend it’s him and so on and so on.. It’s not just pretending I’m on a night out like for example the other night I was sat on my bed and I was pretending inwar sat with friends having a laugh and messing about . And I talk as if I’m there but I don’t see anything or hear anything.I’ve done this for years. Say if I have to have an arguement with someone ill act it out so it always makes me
Feel better. I don’t know if I’m crazy or what. It’s hard to explain. I never do it outside just if I’m inside on my own. Most times I’m acting as if I’m walking into a place and everyones eyes are on me. Sometimes it’s just silly little things I act out. I have a feeling it’s because I don’t have many friends so I act out and talk to myself situations I would like to happen. Please help if u can just some advice would be good and do u think I should go see someone.
Okay first off…Thank you to Lannaxe96 and Shakespeare for the award. It was very kind and very sweet. I’m still mulling over my list so I’ll have that up soon.
To Storm- I’ll make sure to always keep a spot open for you on my crazy boat.
To Rachel -
Your question is one of layers. I hear all the time about the power of positive visualization by which one will envision a future situation turning out the way they wish it to - a sort of mental practice, if you will. This is a widely accepted and recommended practice.
As for the extent to which you go with the visualization turned actual practice in your room…well, this might not be all that comforting to you as I’ve already declared myself non-mentally ill and crazy, but I’ve done that sort of thing before. I’ve spontaneously burst into a ballet performance in my kitchen though I’m not a ballerina, I’ve grabbed a brush to use as a microphone and pretended to be in a music video…yeah, I can’t sing, by the way.
And who among us has never pretended we just won an emmy or a grammy and given our heartfelt acceptance speech to our cat?
That fact that you’re acting out those things of a more practical nature - such as a difficult confrontation with a friend or an evening out - doesn’t make you seem any more crazy than the rest of us by any means.
Honestly, Rachel, I don’t think your crazy or mentally ill; I think you’re bored more than anything else and just looking for a way to fill the time. Until the time comes (which it probably won’t) when you begin to act out hurting others or yourself, I see no reason to seek professional help.
That being said, if you feel like it’s causing a true problem for you then see someone for your own peace of mind. Please correct me if I’m wrong, but it sounds like you’re a little lonely and shy. Talking to someone might be able to help you work out your feelings about that, but I have to say…a good friend can sometimes give better perspective than a professional simply because they know you.
I don’t really know if that was any help to you. I hope it was, but I’m sorry if it wasn’t. Please write back any time. — Jen
Fang Bangin’ Friday.. haha!
Well, I like to thing that deep down we are all a little bit crazy. It’s what makes the world go round.
Great posts my Dark friends. I consider myself a bit dark considering I’m a chef and take pleasure at throwing things. lol Keep them coming and I’ll be back.