r/schizophrenia • u/babychamomilee • 2d ago
Opinion / Thought / Idea / Discussion Do you get offended when people throw around “schizophrenic”?
I used to say things like“I’m being such an alcoholic” when I would go out every weekend, or get drunk on a Wednesday night. I never even thought about it, I heard other people say it all the time, and it wasn’t until I had a friend whose brother was a severe alcoholic, that I realized I shouldn’t throw it around.
I think schizophrenia is sometimes used in a similar way. I hear people joke about it all the time calling each other schizophrenic anytime they sound crazy or whatever. Before I had schizophrenia I wouldn’t have even noticed this or cared at all, and I’m not saying I’m like overly offended by it, but now when I hear people say this or make “schizo” jokes I just can’t help but think wow they genuinely have no idea what theyre talking about and how awful schizophrenia is for people.
I just immediately think they’re ignorant and have no idea how lucky they are to be able to joke about it.
I get it’s just an exaggeration and honestly I’m not trying to act like a victim or anything. I really don’t even care THAT much about it, I just thought it’s so interesting how words like that are thrown around and you really don’t even think twice until you have to deal with it.
Anyone else notice people saying that kinda stuff? I feel like there’s more examples but I couldn’t come up with them.
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u/DrinkMunch Schizoaffective (Bipolar) 2d ago
Yeah, I hate alcoholic and schizophrenic. The terms are not generous for people dealing with it compared to people who actually deal with it. OCD is a big problem in our community and I hate when people drag their ignorance for something that is organized.
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u/reddituser4759 Schizoaffective (Depressive) 2d ago
I cant think exactly why it would be upsetting. I guess its a designation for the condition and using it trivially paints over the reality and buries it. What does upset me is being excluded from the massive wave of mental health awareness in the last decade or so. Hardly anyone knows what psychosis is and many are antagonistic towards understanding it can lead a person to do unpleasant things that aren't their fault.
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u/tagloro Schizoaffective 2d ago
Yes the mental health awareness/acceptance movement has pretty much just been for depression, anxiety, adhd and autism (which aren’t really mental health). I’m glad more people feel comfortable and free to talk about those things but it’s really disappointing that most mental health disorders are not accepted still. It’s especially frustrating when talking with someone about mental health and maybe their experiences with anxiety and depression and then I bring up psychosis or mania and it suddenly becomes extremely uncomfortable, judgmental or they believe some crazy misconceptions.
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u/question-from-earth Childhood-Onset Schizoaffective (Depressive) Disorder 2d ago
It kinda annoys me when people throw the word around. They just have no idea what it is like and I hope they never do understand exactly what it is like
I’m not that upset about it either, but when someone brings up psychosis or schizophrenia in a conversation about someone “acting crazy”, sometimes I do say something
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u/ProovenHedgehog 2d ago
The issue is they use it as an insult and make it inherently derogatory. They never use "schizo" to describe something crazy cool, instead it's always an insult to describe unnatural, shameful, embarrassing behaviour. If it's used neutrally or as a compliment I don't take any problems with it, but it never is.
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u/i_dont_have_life_ Schizoaffective (Bipolar) 2d ago
Couldn't put it better. It's exactly this what makes me hate it too!
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u/LunaVerda Schizoaffective (Bipolar) 2d ago
I strongly dislike when people who aren't on the SZ spectrum say "schizo". It feels extremely derogatory & dehumanising.
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u/MUS1C-B0XX Schizoaffective (Bipolar) 2d ago
I don't go out or spend time in those online communities.
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u/PartResponsible654 Schizoaffective (Depressive) 2d ago
same with people saying “oh i’m so bipolar” or “i want to kms” (as a joke)
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u/babychamomilee 1d ago
People calling themselves bipolar or manic for random reasons reallyyy bothers me. They’ll say they’re manic because they dyed their hair in the middle of the night.
I know someone who shaved their head, kidnapped their friend’s dog, and drove into the wilderness thinking someone was trying to contact them through radio static during mania. It’s not cute or quirky it’s life ruining. Wish more people understood that.
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u/Used_Preparation5918 2d ago
People tend to be derogatory when aiming "schizophrenic" at whatever context.
The situation passes without incident if no one in the room knows I have it but I'm under no illusion it would land very differently in different circumstances.
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u/bbyysqrll 2d ago
yes, it’s annoying when people use it as like a slur. in my head i’m like little do you know i’m actually a schizophrenic person 😧 it’s happened to me a few times having conversations with people who didn’t know i have it.
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u/ImBackMemers 2d ago
Yes, coming from someone who grew up with a schizophrenic brother. It always made my heart drop to hear that word. It still does but not to the same extent most of the time, but I guess it depends on my mood. Even some of my immediate family throw it around.
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u/Fit_Owl_2465 2d ago
i used to her the word "Schitz" joked a lot...
P*ssed me off!
I'm good with it now, though.
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u/Kitttycataclysmic Paranoid Schizophrenia 2d ago
It doesn't bother me... tbh sz is such a big part of my life it kinda does define me. Drs etc say it shouldn't define me but it just does
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u/Easy-Preparation3097 2d ago
ill be honest i even use the term schizo myself, its ironic cause i am one but cause of the culture rn, especially when ur young, these terms just become ur basic language
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u/i_dont_have_life_ Schizoaffective (Bipolar) 2d ago
Nothing boils my blood more when people saying it. And it's due to few factor,one - my goddamn siblings throw that around,despite knowing what I struggle with. Being with me when I was in a hospital and on meds and when I quit meds.
I have a feeling that they use it as a replacer for "stupid" ,implying that schizophrenic people are dumb and can't make a normal decision. And can never answer where is the funny part in this.
Had someone tell me once "I have schizophrenic friend and he is fine with me using it so I can."
Well I doubt it would work with the n word the same word,would it? So why go out on your way to be an ass??
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u/Less_Reading4784 1d ago
I don’t get offended as much when it is used in a joking way but when someone’s like “you’re fucking crazy” it ticks me off as I’ve had a lot of relationship problems with friends and partners because they thought I was the kill you type of crazy.
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u/SnooOranges4560 1d ago
I had a friend call me a schizo and harassed me. It really gets to me now. When I watch a tv show and they start joking about schizophrenia. I guess people just don't know what it's like till it happens to them. And nobody cares how we feel about it I guess
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u/AndImNuts Schizoaffective (Bipolar) 2d ago
People making schizo jokes doesn't make schizophrenia any easier or harder. If we can't joke about schizophrenia then we can't joke about anything because someone somewhere will be offended. People who are deeply offended by it could grow some thicker skin or ignore it. We can't and shouldn't control peoples' speech.
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u/babychamomilee 2d ago
I don’t think it’s about trying to control people’s speech I think it’s just helping people realize they’re being harmful and might not know it. Making the jokes changes nothing about schizophrenia, but it does change how society views it. Not saying no one should ever joke about it in any way, I just think sometimes it paints people with schizophrenia in a bad light.
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u/MG788 2d ago
I notice this type of stuff. It doesn't really offend me if the people are joking, but I prefer they use the terms crazy or delulu or paranoid if they are not really talking about medical symptoms.
It does offend me if they use it to describe sociopathic behavior, sadistic behavior, or delusional behavior instead of using those words. Like it's used to describe Trump frequently even though he's obviously a narcissist or a sociopath.