What's the current definition on the word "crazy"?

Question

Like there are people who do out of control things, think about suicide, have weird behaviors or things they feel they have to do in order to feel complete, those that have such bad anxiety that they really can't be around people at all, bad depression, and so on but these people are not commonly referred to as "crazy". Even drug addicts seem to just have "mental problems" and are not called "crazy". So what is crazy. Is it really a point of no return? A complete loss of conciousness?

Answer 1

There really is no definition for a word that has become so slangy as to be insulting. You can paste that word on anyone who doesn't behave as you want them to or think they should. In that way it is a ridiculous word and really shouldn't be used by people in an intelligent conversation.

Answer 2

The word isn't used much any more, but it refers to someone who has mental problems that prevent them from functioning in more than one area of their life- z.b. too many mental problems to work/go to school /have stable relationships. They are affected emotionally and in other ways too, z.b. physically (i.e. psychosomatic depression/anxiety symptoms,) or interpersonally (cannot relate well or normally to others.) Crazy isn't an absolute- it's a continuum. And there's no point of no return. Even if a person has severe mental problems that can't be cured, he or she can always lessen the symptoms, or at least TRY to overcome his/her problems so as to live a better life.

The key to "crazy" is affecting functioning in more than one area. I used to have problems which caused me to self-injure, but even when it was at it worst, I was still doing well in school and work, had okay relationships, and seemed to have it all together- the only real effect of all that was emotional- it didn't cause life-threatening injury or even be something to go to the ER for, and I could still function.

Health and illness, both physical and mental, aren't absolutes. They are culturally defined. Therefore, what it crazy to some isn't to others and vice versa

Answer 3

Pretty much, yeah.  

Crazy is no longer politically correct, so you won't hear it that often, but just before my family member comitted suicide 20 years ago, the doctors gave the diagnosis of "going crazy/insane".  

Answer 4

I would say "crazy" (when referring to mental health) means unable to function within a reasonable capacity.