Words matter. I’m not one to be politically correct. Goodness knows I don’t want to be the word police. I realize that people don’t mean any harm when they say the words “crazy” or “insane”. For pete’s sake, I use those words every now and then. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t. I have made it a policy, though, to try only to use them in reference to a situation rather than a person.
The other day, I was reading the post of a blogger I really like. She was talking about how she has received very threatening and completely inappropriate tweets after she spoke out about Amazon selling a “how to” e-book on pedophilia. A few people on Twitter didn’t like the public position she took that Amazon should remove the book. They felt it was a position of censorship. These few responded by tweeting awful-with-a-capital-A, violent things that I refuse to repeat. (Don’t worry, the book was removed by Amazon after a public outcry.)
A commenter to her blog post about the threatening tweeters wrote this:
Whenever I’m engaged in this kind of controversy this is what I do: I separate the tweets into two categories. Sometimes I call them “crazy” “not crazy.” Sometimes it’s “dangerous” “not dangerous.” Sometimes it’s “needs a straight-jacket” “can ride the subway alone.” You get the idea. The classification has nothing to do with whether or not they agree with me, it just has to do with their level of sanity, if they’re actually talking to me or just shouting at me, and if there’s any small chance of having any kind of rational discussion, even if we’re totally completely on opposite sides of the issue.
I responded to that commenter with this:
While I understand your point, I’m not sure if I agree with making this a mental health issue (“crazy”, “sanity”, “straightjacket”). Plenty of people with mental illness wouldn’t say or do the things that some of these tweeters do. I would say it’s more of a maturity and impulse control issue. Just my 2 cents, as someone who cares a lot about mental health stigma … Hope you don’t mind.
And the commenter replied back with this:
That’s what I do in my own head. It’s not a mental health issue, it’s my own shorthand. I think you’re taking that part of my comment a tad too seriously.
I have to admit I was taken aback. I tried to be very respectful and thoughtful about how I put my comment to her. I would have thought she wouldn’t respond, or that perhaps she’d just say she got where I was coming from. Instead, she seemed annoyed with me. So I started to wonder if maybe I am taking this all too seriously. Maybe I should just keep my thoughts to myself. I’m sure she didn’t mean anything by it. Who am I to say anything?
Then I saw this on The Huffington Post yesterday from actress Glenn Close, who started Bring Change 2 Mind, a national organization to combat stigma of mental illness:
I will not perpetuate or tolerate stigma of any kind and will commit myself to changing the way society views people living with mental illness.
And I changed my mind.
I am someone who knows that women with postpartum depression and related illnesses need help. I am someone who knows that people making fun or light of mental illness, or associating it with violence, have an impact on whether new mothers feel safe in talking openly about what they are going through and reaching out for help. I will continue to speak out, and no one can stop me.
I'm glad you changed your mind. I'm one woman in an office/field filled with men and I have PPD/PPA. I can't tell them what I'm going through because they make light of EVERY situation. Everything is a joke. I told my husband about this this morning and he said "It's just how men are!". I find that unacceptable. I'm not putting myself out there to be snickered at. Not really the same thing as you are posting about but sort of. Keep educating people Katherine!!
The first thing I thought of as I read your post was those commercials that were targeted at eliminating using the phrase "that's so gay" to mean "that's stupid", etc.
You are totally right and I'm glad you took a stand for all of us.
i remember cringing when i heard the words 'crazy' or 'insane' to describe people as i was recovering from ppd. it felt too close and in my vulnerable condition i wondered if i also deserved to be lumped into that group. it adds to the anxiety. i agree that people need to be more aware that others around them might be struggling silently and that language like that does not serve any positive purpose. thanks katherine!
I try to make a difference with my word choices too. Its really tough to get rid of some of them though. They are so ingrained in our soceity. I first noticed the almost flippant use of insane, crazy, nuts, etc. in my support group. Obviously we are all struggling with trying to figure out where on the spectrum we are currently at, but when I contribute to the group (I'm well into my recovery phase) I try to keep that in mind and phrase me comments without these terms. At least not in a flippant manner. And this approach has bubbled over into my everyday interactions with people in general. Not sure if its helping.
It's amazing how it creeps in and how acceptable some of the language in. I use the words 'crazy' and 'insane' from time to time to, though generally not in reference to people.
What really made me stop and rethink things was my friend's battle with OCD. We use the concept of 'OCD' SO casually, but it really, really bugs here when people say they are 'OCD About Such-in-Such,' and have no grasp of what the disorder is.
Looking at that through her eyes made me rethink a lot.
There are so many words that have been deemed unacceptable because of the stigma they encourage…and "crazy" and "insane" should be no different. If we stand up for ourselves, and tell people we hear use those words how it hurts us (and others), then we are a part of the solution.
Being called crazy has made me feel like people couldn't separate me from my mental disease. Like I was entirely written off/dismissed because one part of my life is difficult. I have told people in response to their insensitivity that I am a normal person suffering from a mood disorder. I am not that disorder…I am so much more. And labels like "crazy" and "insane" are unproductive at best.
It's so much more useful for people to say what they really mean instead of using offensive colloquialisms to unintentionally (and sometimes intentionally) cut each other down.
Glad that you will continue to speak out because we all need you to speak out, it inspires us to speak out as well.
Funny, but just the other day while reading a guest post on this (my favorite website) I felt like speaking out about terminology I found disturbing. Then I thought about it, and thought since I saw it on this (my favorite website) maybe I should keep quiet. But now, this post has unleashed all inhibition:)
Re: the Guest post of the other day
I really, really, really find using the term *rare* in connection to the words *postpartum psychosis* to be inaccurate and dangerous. An illness that occurs in 1 in 500 deliveries is hardly rare. And labeling any illness like that, ensures people, including health care providers, dedicate little attention to it and is what I believe causes others to ignore, minimize and dismiss the reality of it and its symptoms.
It's like I always say: Postpartum psychosis never kills, but ignorance about it does. Toward this end, the language we use can create this ignorance or eliminate it.
I would have probably felt the same way. It feels awful when you try to communicate with someone on a mature and responsible level and they act like you're being a killjoy. I'm glad you make it a point to communicate how you feel about PPD, no matter how people might misunderstand you. Keep speaking out–like you said, no one can stop you, and thank goodness for that.
Did noone else notice that Glee made fun of Bipolar Disorder last night? And then Parenthood made light of OCD. Both shows have worked so hard to decrease the stigma associated with their own causes (the gay community and asperger syndrome). But apparently it's okay to take digs at people with mental illness. This has to stop.
I'm all fired up. Writing letters to both networks today.
I've heard that feedback from a lot of people. I think all we're saying is to think before you speak about the context in which you are using the words.
I don't watch Glee or Parenthood, but good for you for noticing and for voicing your opinion on it.
Thanks A.
My illness and me were two separate things, in a way. I am not a "crazy" or "insane" person. I had an illness that made me feel and think those ways, but it was the illness. It didn't define the wholeness of who I am, which includes all sorts of things.
I think lots of us use those words from time to time. It's just part of the vernacular. And it is otherwise difficult to describe something that is "crazy" without using the word "crazy". Highly unusual, maybe? Very out of the ordinary? Not like normal (whatever that is)?
I'm not against the words ever, I just would like people to be more careful how they use them, especially when crazy is directly linked to mental illness which is directly linked to violence or poor character or lack of usefulness and value in society.
It's funny how we don't notice the words and how they might affect people until we're in a situation where it is personally relevant.
I think it was right of you. Kudos for standing up for us. You wouldn't believe it but my psychiatrist's secretary makes these references all the time. She'll say things like "Oh it's been so crazy around here" and it catches me off guard.
I get your point for sure, and I think in the context described in your article it's probably appropriate. I do think we need to be a little careful not to be over-sensitive, however.
"Crazy" has many meanings–including fun/exciting, chaotic/out-of-control (as in a place, an office, etc.), a slang adjective meaning very much (I'm crazy hungry!) etc. Isn't the context and intent important?
It's also an incredibly outdated term for the truly mentally ill, and I doubt that many people use it in that way anymore. Since I would never call or think of myself (or anything else with a mental illness) crazy, it doesn't really offend me unless it is clearly used against someone who IS mentally ill (or meant to imply that someone is and that makes them a bad/less than person). Just my two cents. I'm MUCH more worried about the very real stigma against actual illnesses and the people with them (i.e. postpartum depression, psychosis, etc.).
I agree. I do think crazy has many meanings, and many of them are harmless in reference to the things you mention – a crazy place, crazy fun, a crazy time. I just want to make sure that crazy doesn't equal mental illness doesn't equal violence.
I found those commercials to be impactful. I'd like to think someday jokes about mental health would go the same way as other slanderous/bigoted remarks.
Though I found myself using the phrase "crazy loon" to describe someone today. I didn't even realize that I had said it until it was out of my mouth 3 times in one convo. I was so completely ashamed when I realized how easily it slipped right out.
"Remove the speck from your own eye before you try to remove the plank from your brother's…."
Yes! I noticed that too. It made me so angry. I feel like these shows are trying to get people to have open minds about certain things and then they act so closed mindedly about mental issues. It really made me mad.