If you're friends with a person who has a mental illness would they get offended if you said "Man you're nuts"

Question

In the context that most people call each other "nuts".

Answer 1

It depends on the person wouldn't it? Plus you need to factor in whether they are aware of their illness. Does your friend admit to it or not, and is he/she trying to tame or control their disorder?

I have a friend who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and is legally homicidal. His doctor says that he has a malfunction in his brain so that no matter how happy the moment might be, he will always be chronically depressed. I'm dead serious. He has been arrested before and has been to a mental institution twice. Yes, he is my friend.

Anyways, if we are together and he has taken his medication, telling him "Man you're nuts" in a serious way is the worst thing you can say to him, he would explode. If you say it in a playful way, he would ignore it. If though, he has not taken his medication, there is no telling what he would do.

So in the end, this question only opens other questions, making things harder and more confusing. My suggestion: play it safe and don't say it. Whether in a playful way or not.

Answer 2

I have a friend who has mental illness, and I can't tell you how many times I've said, "Man, you're crazy!" or "You're nuts, dude!" I forget he has the illness and get caught up in what we're talking about. He never seems offended, though, and I sure don't mean it that way.

Answer 3

I never minded, and never met anyone who did mind. I go into the nut hatchery every once in a while and I call them all nuts while I am there.
I really do have a mental illness, I really do go inpatient sometimes.
Most mentally ill people actually have a pretty good sense of humor.
We have to.

Answer 4

Ask your friend first if they object to the term "nuts". If they are not symptomatic, they probably would not mind.

I frequently say, "That's crazy!" at work, where there are 30 mentally ill people. Some one always shouts out a response like, "Better you than me," "At least you know it," "There is medication for that," etc.

My point is that we all have limitations. But facing them and dealing with them in a non-judgmental environment helps promote recovery.

Good luck & GOD bless.

Answer 5

I think it depends on the person and the type of illness they have. It is a commonly used phrase so maybe not. Why change the way you speak or the phrases you use to "not offend" it would be more noticeable if you chose your words cautiously and slowed your speech as not to offend.

Answer 6

It depends upon how sensitive they are, generally, then how sensitive they are about that particular issue. If it were me I would go ahead and say it then call them a p*ssy if they whine but that's how my friends & I operate - calling a spade a spade. I have a friend who's majorly OCD and I call him out on being a weirdo every now and then but it's no big deal b/c he has a good sense of humor.

Try it and find out!

Answer 7

i and my hubby and two of our bestest friends have mental illness and i know me and my hubby laugh when we get called nuts because well we do act like a bunch of nuts alot of the time and i have called my friend nuts and my hubby it is not offensive as long as it is ment to be a playful and not hurtful

Answer 8

I won't see why they would but it all depends if they can take a joke and if they have a good sense of humor if they don't then they might get a little up set

Answer 9

I wouldn't under that context, but if they said it as if they were disgusted or frightened by my thoughts or behavior I would be hurt. Not because they think it, but because it may be true.

Answer 10

no and on the same token my best friend in the whole world is gay and i am always saying "man that is so gay" and he never takes it personally because he knows that it is not a direct insult to him but just a stupid expression