The use of euphemisms for mental illness is common, but mental health professionals prefer to use diagnostic terms. “Crazy” is a difficult word to define and can be used in exaggerated ways. Euphemisms for insanity vary depending on social status and intelligence level. While many euphemisms exist, they can be hurtful and reduce a person’s illness to a humorous phrase. Mental health professionals should correct the use of such phrases, especially when used to describe those in need of professional care.
A euphemism is a phrase or word that politely or vaguely describes someone or something. In terms of describing someone as crazy, there are enough euphemisms to drive you crazy. It is also notable that most mental health professionals resent the term insane because it has negative connotations. They cannot use euphemisms, but stick to the diagnostic terms of a person’s mental illness. Alternatively, they may refer to a person’s mental health problems as an illness, rather than using insanity to describe a person’s behavior.
Crazy in itself is a difficult word to define, as many people use it in an exaggerated form to indicate a momentary lapse of time or a feeling of stress. “You’re driving me crazy” is code for “You’re driving me mad” or “You’re annoying me.” People with mental illnesses may actually call themselves insane, but many people without an actual illness do as well.
As a euphemism for crazy is often used to depend on social ranking. For example, Howard Hughes was often referred to as eccentric, rather than being called insane. Some of the more negative terms for insanity have been used of those of poorer economic standing. As many point out, eccentricity is within the reach of the rich, but it is resented by the poor and the middle class, perhaps taking different terms into account.
There are a huge number of euphemisms for going crazy, but some refer more to a person’s level of intelligence. For example, the sentence “the lights are on but no one is home” is more likely to suggest that a person is mentally impaired rather than a crazy person. Likewise the following sentences may suggest a low IQ rather than insanity:
Few bricks short of a load
Five cans less than a six-pack
It doesn’t fire on all cylinders
A short olive from a pizza
Four quarters for less than a dollar
For true euphemisms referring to insanity, there are plenty to choose from. A person who is insane can be labeled as nutty, eccentric, insane, kooky, a space cadet, loony, a trash can, a wreck, potty-trained, or insane. The latter two are more familiar in the UK than in the US. In addition to one or two word descriptions, there are many sentences expressing the general madness. These include:
It has a loose screw
he’s pissed off
It should be in the Bughouse
Mad as a hatter
Crazy as a monkey on a tricycle
He lost his marbles
It belongs to the boohatch
While euphemisms are generally intended to be vague, many of these are quite biting and hurtful. Applied to a person with an actual mental illness or a person with a lower IQ, they are similar to calling a person by any other kind of name. They immediately reduce the person’s illness to a humorous phrase and also show no mercy or empathy for what may be legitimate and extensive suffering. Mental health professionals can be right when they correct others about the use of such phrases, especially when they are used to describe those who are in genuine need of professional care. At the very least, perhaps these terms are better used in metaphorical, self-referential, and exaggerated ways than to actually refer to someone who is sick.
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