Is it possible for a crazy person to know they're crazy?

Answer 1

Now WHY would I want to know that I am crazy????

I like being ME the way I am right now!!!

Answer 2

It is absolutely possible. Knowledge of one's own illness is in no way inconsistent with having the illness. The idea that self-awareness makes a problem disappear is a myth (and a bad one) dating way back to Freudian days.

If you are interested in this topic, search out "insight" or the more technicial term "anosognosia". Anosognosia is the polar opposite of insight, so it's the unawareness of having a given illness.

It is possible to have awareness or not have awareness of one's own illness.


With all due respect to the other posters, many of the answers here are factually incorrect, and I would suggest that if you don't have the knowledge to answer a question, that you should refrain from offering a guess, outdated thinking, or old-wives-tale as if it were fact. It is "Yahoo Answers" not "Yahoo Guesses"

Answer 3

Few crazy people are crazy all the time, so in times of lucidity they can reason they are in trouble. The trouble with being lucid though is that it can make the 'crazy' think they are back to normal. Usually it takes a crisis.

Answer 4

thankyou devlsadvoct. i know what my next question on here will be. yes it is possible and i would LOVE to go back to my oblivious cloud when i was whoever i was rather than having things pointed out to me. i'm really not sure if it went from 'crazy' to what people refer to as 'normal' or if i went from 'normal' to 'crazy' learning it has become a complete crisis and my life is a disaster. this isn't the same for everyone. sorry if i bummed anyone out :(

~oh well block it out and move on. L0L :)

Answer 5

I'd say that alot of "crazy" people do know that there is something going on with them, they just may not realize what that is exactly.

I know that I can have alot of things going on in my life and be reacting to those things in an unhealthy way and not even realize it. For instance, when I get stressed out, I tend to lash out at people for little/no reason. My attitude sucks, my job performance sucks, and my patience is gone. For the longest time, I didn't even realize that I was being hateful to people with no provocation. Once it was pointed out to me, I have made a concerted effort to curb that attitude. I can now let people know when I feel that tightening in my chest that I need to get my breath for a moment and then deal with whatever needs to be dealt with.

I'd say that many people with mental problems havent had people point out to them their behavior patterns so they probably dont realize what they're doing.

So to answer your question, I think that once its pointed out to them, they know. Before that, they don't.

Answer 6

what a can of worms, No a clinical psychotic or such would have no concept of his or her condition if it reaches that worsened stage. Some people just like the idea of madness and go with it. Imagine being "crazy" and not being able to understand and not being able to explain. That should answer your q

Answer 7

Well on a consious level, probably not, but when a person does the same thing over and over and over again, then expecting different results, that is crazy.

Answer 8

I worked with developmentally disabled adults for awhile.
One day I asked one of the guys, who was really crazy what it was like when he was in high school.
His response was "I didn't really go to high school yessica, I went to the school next to it for the crazy kids."
He talked often with his "husband" often whom didn't really exist and carried a barbie doll that was his "daughter".
He also would get mad sometimes for having to live in this group home with all the crazy guys.

Answer 9

No. If a crazy person realizes his mental condition, he is no longer crazy.

Answer 10

They certainly know they are very different than the mainstream, if they are not psychotic. Psychotics usually think they are the norm. Most mentally ill people know they need help.