I think we're all a little crazy!

But do you think you're crazy... even slightly?

[Ocean Swimmer]

You know what?
I think some of the projects I've started and not finished are crazy.
I've made crazy choices in men.
But no. It doesn't reflect on me being crazy.

[BastetsMuse]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

I think we're all a little crazy!

But do you think you're crazy... even slightly?

Define crazy..... because I'm bipolar, I'm supposed to be crazy, but I think my reactions to things may be more sane than most now because I think about how I react. I don't blame my illness for my behavior... that's about as sane as it gets.

[gina_re]

Life wouldn't be as interesting if I wasn't
But it's also like one of those things that we can say to each other in jest, but don't like when other people (without MI) do because they don't really understand

[Icare dixit]

I am perfectly normal, no-one ever thinks I might be just a little eccentric or crazy, everyone understands me perfectly even though they say they don't.

So I am very much crazy.

[Espurr1989]

Sometimes I feel crazy. But it usually passes by the next day, if not sooner.

I see/hear about many things on a daily basis which are much crazier than I feel like sometimes. That really puts things into perspective for me.

[Woolly Bugger]

If you know that you are crazy, then you are not crazy.

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by Woolly Bugger

If you know that you are crazy, then you are not crazy.

Not necessarily in my experience. Sometimes you just can't help yourself. Sometimes it's true of course. But if you think you know you are not crazy, you probably are. I mean, how would you know?

[cashart10]

In the past (and I hope never again), I have experienced insanity. Other than that, and as an everyday occurance, I don't feel I am crazy. I do feel that if I am manic or depressed I am sick. I don't usually use that term however, instead I will refer to myself as unwell. It is hard for many people to think as such, even those who are aware and those who suffer themselves. It is considered a "mental illness," a severe one in fact, and therefore we are sick during an episode.

[Nammu]

Everyone around me acts like they're trying hard to not act like I'm crazy....so I know I'm not crazy since they are trying so hard to act like I'm not.

Right now, I think I see clearer than ever. I feel more than sane. I'm certain I am psychic. Things are definitely happening to confirm this belief. It's ok for now, but I've bypassed two of my safety measures and I might need to reavalute this current course.

I recognize I don't usually believe this. I mean, sometimes I wonder if I might be a secret genius, but that doesn't last more than a 4th grade math question or two. And yes, I have come to accept that I can sometimes be unually perceptive. But not psychic, and I'm having what I call "bad thoughts". This doesn't mean I'm feeling violent, it means things are taking a turn for the negative in my mind. Turning unpleasant.

But once again the thoughts that "this time you are seeing the real truth" is strong in me. My grounding measures are working, but flimsy and I need to reorganize.

I don't know if I'm crazy. Sometimes I'm sure of it but other times I think something else is going on. I know that society would deem me as such and sometimes I feel that is important to consider. I can't say what I think right now about society.

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by cashart10

In the past (and I hope never again), I have experienced insanity. Other than that, and as an everyday occurance, I don't feel I am crazy. I do feel that if I am manic or depressed I am sick. I don't usually use that term however, instead I will refer to myself as unwell. It is hard for many people to think as such, even those who are aware and those who suffer themselves. It is considered a "mental illness," a severe one in fact, and therefore we are sick during an episode.

I like unwell! Hate MI (think it hurts and only helps to disintegrate the self/soul further). In the spirit of unwell, I have no problem with "mental health", but for me that refers to how well you cope with your problems, not about being unhealthy when you have this severe and debilitating mental illness (if I got a participant for my newest game each time that phrase starts some research article, many people with BP and other things that make them mentally unwell would receive treatment sooner).

[pirilin]

Crazy is losing touch with reality. So I know I'm not crazy.
But I don't know what am I doing here.
Why are they following me.
How come I don't act like the rest.
Why I do I have this impending doom feeling.
Nothing lasts enough.
I can't sleep without pill.
Say words that only I understand.
Little details that need some sorting. But I'm NOT CRAZY. OK!!!.

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

Right now, I think I see clearer than ever. I feel more than sane. I'm certain I am psychic. Things are definitely happening to confirm this belief. It's ok for now, but I've bypassed two of my safety measures and I might need to reavalute this current course.

I recognize I don't usually believe this. I mean, sometimes I wonder if I might be a secret genius, but that doesn't last more than a 4th grade math question or two. And yes, I have come to accept that I can sometimes be unually perceptive. But not psychic, and I'm having what I call "bad thoughts". This doesn't mean I'm feeling violent, it means things are taking a turn for the negative in my mind. Turning unpleasant.

But once again the thoughts that "this time you are seeing the real truth" is strong in me. My grounding measures are working, but flimsy and I need to reorganize.

I don't know if I'm crazy. Sometimes I'm sure of it but other times I think something else is going on. I know that society would deem me as such and sometimes I feel that is important to consider. I can't say what I think right now about society.

Transient strong and consequential beliefs are very difficult, but they are still yours. Just put a high-pass filter (some would say low-pass, considering strength and contrast) in place: if the frequency of having certain beliefs is frequent enough, just use it as a valid assumption.

Changing beliefs can really disintegrate the self/soul. Saying it is a MI is not helping at all: half of your life or more should be cured. That's cruel and self-destructive/-dismissive/-annulling! Toxic mindset.

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by pirilin

Crazy is losing touch with reality. So I know I'm not crazy.
But I don't know what am I doing here.
Why are they following me.
How come I don't act like the rest.
Why I do I have this impending doom feeling.
Nothing lasts enough.
I can't sleep without pill.
Say words that only I understand.
Little details that need some sorting. But I'm NOT CRAZY. OK!!!.

But how can you be sure you haven't lost it?

Thinking you know you haven't is just crazy.

[hopeless2015]

There are days I think I am but they pass, I know for certain that I have been very sick over the last few months and am finally feeling better right now

Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk

[Nammu]

Originally Posted by pirilin

Crazy is losing touch with reality. So I know I'm not crazy.
But I don't know what am I doing here.
Why are they following me.
How come I don't act like the rest.
Why I do I have this impending doom feeling.
Nothing lasts enough.
I can't sleep without pill.
Say words that only I understand.
Little details that need some sorting. But I'm NOT CRAZY. OK!!!.

Are you sure crazy is losing touch with reality? I think being too much in touch with reality is crazy making. I prefer not being in touch with what neuro-typical folks think reality is. But we all have our own point of view.

[pirilin]

Originally Posted by Nammu

Are you sure crazy is losing touch with reality? I think being too much in touch with reality is crazy making. I prefer not being in touch with what neuro-typical folks think reality is. But we all have our own point of view.

At this point I'm not sure of anything. It was a textbook answer.
I hear the expression he/she "lost it". I assume (yeah) they refer to reality.
It will be of high interest to me to hear you version of crazy.

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by pirilin

At this point I'm not sure of anything. It was a textbook answer.
I hear the expression he/she "lost it". I assume (yeah) they refer to reality.
It will be of high interest to me to hear you version of crazy.

Mine: thinking some reality is worth more than another if there is no way of telling (there might be, but people may assume such without any reasoning behind it). Even if only I live a total fiction, it might be worth far more than someone's touch with, or clinging to, some reality.

Icare, thank you for replying to me. I think I get what your saying, but I wonder if giving in to what everyone tells me are impossible things, could be considered constructive. society knows best after all. Or popular opinion is always right. Oh wait....... Oh well. Scratch that. Anyways, thanks for the advise. I'll put it in my pocket and stare at it lovingly.

[Nammu]

Crazy is accepting that the majority view of reality is the only valid view.

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

Icare, thank you for replying to me. I think I get what your saying, but I wonder if giving in to what everyone tells me are impossible things, could be considered constructive. society knows best after all. Or popular opinion is always right. Oh wait....... Oh well. Scratch that. Anyways, thanks for the advise. I'll put it in my pocket and stare at it lovingly.

Originally Posted by Nammu

Crazy is accepting that the majority view of reality is the only valid view.

It's also of course about what's practical and gives you more acceptance when needed, but never stop believing in what you truly keep hanging on to, that which supports you.

The real crazy people indeed not just may assume too much, but they see it as the truth.

If I were to consider all that my psychiatrist says as the (only) truth, my doubt would lead to anxiety and my anxiety to beliefs that I know aren't tenable or healthy.

You can't just choose what to believe, so better believe in something, fully accepted by others or not.

I think it's more complicated, but I do appreciate where you are coming from and see you mean well.

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

I think it's more complicated, but I do appreciate where you are coming from and see you mean well.

How is it more complicated, you think? I tend to oversimplify and assume too much (humbly, I hope), so I'm very much interested to know.

And when I talk about beliefs supporting you I mean really abstract, foundational/philosophical stuff.

Separating those from unhealthy and erroneous ideas can be difficult, but destroying an entire belief system to help you deal with unhealthy beliefs with negative consequences works very much counterproductive.

Just pointing out some flaws in your reasoning is great, but many things are based on assumptions nobody can disprove. Learning that things don't matter is far more important than changing beliefs. I belief I am being watched every time I go outside and when I am using the Internet and I am right. I just don't care (anymore and hopefully never again). Does it matter that you might think you are having a conversation with someone else in your mind. It takes up time and effort that might be better spend, but it is like on this forum: people can block you or just ignore you, as they may ignore you in real life. They may know stuff about you or they don't. It's the not caring that counts, not the believing.

Everything you can't shake and that is harmless is always better than losing all of your beliefs. Beliefs that you are watched, your thoughts are read or you can converse mentally/telepathically, just as examples, are based on deeper convictions you shouldn't want to part with: they keep you together. You can't just change a belief like you do a tyre, so treat them with respect.

Any clinician should do so too. Constantly saying it's just the illness is not helping if you don't believe it to be an illness. I dare to wager that the majority of people on here that say it is an illness don't truly believe it, or they wouldn't be so touchy about it.

[Icare dixit]

Seriously, believe anything you believe as long as it isn't of extreme importance to you so as to debilitate you.

In my experience, antipsychotics do a very good job there (together with mood stabilisers for more of the same during mania where antipsychotics may not be enough).

Believe what you believe. If unsure if it is solid: high-pass filter.

Hope this helps but do tell me how you see it differently. I am truly very interested to know.