crazy or psycho?

Would you rather be crazy and deemed harmless just a danger to yourself or be called a psycho and have people fear you??

Neither but called Crazy and deem harmless.

I think people make up their own judgements about us as individuals.

There is a major stigma about mental illness.

Your simplification of the two alternate categorizations of crazy or psycho only perpetuate that fact.

In either situation, you are relying on others to define you. You are more than a simple classification that dehumanizes yourself.

People will not all think the same thing about you. Psycho - crazy... these are stigma evolving names.

If we cannot, as mentally ill, keep from calling ourselves these identifications, how can we expect society to change.

I am going to go on a little rant for a second - no offence to anyone in particular.

We are more than just a diagnosis and some meds and a couple therapy visits.

I know it can be hard to tell sometimes, but I see a lot of people posting as if the only thing in their lives is their illness. Like that defines them as a person.

We are people who are mentally ill, not mentally ill people.

Everyone needs to find that thing that separates them from every other human being on the planet. I am sure you probably all know what that thing is.

Stop trying to compare yourselves with others... There will always be someone "better" than you and always someone that is "worse" than you.

I just want everyone to use that individuality and take it for a ride.

Sorry - rant over.

neither although I have been both at times.

I suppose the former, though that's not particularly appealing either.

I do not condone either but before I became unwell I was seen as just a little hyper crazy and just a self-destructive danger to myself, and then I heard someone say I was psycho five years ago, my reputation preceded me as I didn't know who they were.
Yes I have read that the mentally ill are more often than not the victims and not perpetrators. A doctor told me after I pulled off a stunt that I was vulnerable. A family member said, when I was detained the first time that I reminded him of a "pathetic human being" but it was partly the alcohol speaking. On hearing this, I carried an anger, and I my defences were built on a shaky base, but foreboding none the less.

Easier said than done I realize, but the words of an alcoholic (or someone heavily influenced by alcohol at least) are not words that should be taken with much value.

Neither is appropriate. I used to say I was crazy before I was dx'd so I guess that would be my preference.

No, crazy are mentally unstable attention seekers. And, psycho is short for psychotic.

I thought psycho was short for psychopath??

*Willow*

I thought so too

I think it is too!!

Good post. Totally agree. Life is not a competition against other people. I, personally, wouldn't let anyone define me according to their standard.