Do you dimiss what crazy/certified mental people talk about or think on it, trying to find some sense or meaning in it?

[The_Shadow_Dweller]

Whatever it may be.

It is often shown in tv series or movies that the crazy person is actually talking the right thing. But others dismiss the perspn because of craziness.

How do you react?

[WhiteSteve]

I was just with my half-brother all day who’s been in state care my entire life. He has schizophrenia primarily. It depends what he’s talking about. A lot of time it’s fairly inane, like we’ll pick him up for a family gathering like Thanksgiving, or like today on Christmas, and I kid you not, he will spend the ENTIRE drive asking us what’s open or closed on the holiday. And after several of these events, I’ve tried to nicely steer him away from the topic by making blanket statements, “on Christmas, almost everything is closed. Hospitals, police stations, fire stations, some gas stations, some convenience stores, a very small handful of 24-hour pharmacies, and some Chinese restaurants, etc seem to be open for those who don’t celebrate Christmas. Other than that, you can pretty much expect everything to be closed.” Him: “Are bowling alleys open?” Me: “🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️“

But I always listen, and I try to not slip into just giving him the “yup…uh-huh…oh wow!…that’s cool…” as I don’t listen to him. I always want to treat him like a regular person. He told us once that they were boxing at the house he lives at, and that he “knocked out his opponent in the second round.” My dad and I are just like “What the FUCK? They’re having you BOX?” My bro is a good 6’4, 6’5 and he has forearms like Popeye, so I was more worried for others than him. I asked my dad when we were alone “are the staff…do you think they’re BETTING on them?” Like I was about to make a call to the state over this shit, lmao. But we asked him more questions and finally found out he was talking about playing a boxing game on a Nintendo Wii😂😂😂 That was a relief to learn, lmfao.

But the point is, I don’t think he makes things up as much as he doesn’t clearly articulate things to others so we’re on the same page. So when he says things, I try to listen, and then I can discern what’s mundane small talk about his daily happenings and what’s him voicing a concern about something that’s upsetting to him in some way. He’s definitely someone who talks just to talk, so there’s a lot to sift through, but I definitely don’t write it off as “crazy talk.”

[The_Shadow_Dweller]

Got it.

To always listen carefully. Some important info may slip by.👍

[OlderAndWiser]

I was a mental health counsellor in the emergency room for 6 years before I went to law school. When someone says that the CIA has wires woven into the carpet and shocks them when they have mpure thoughts. . . yeah, I don't pay attention to that nonsense.

[The_Shadow_Dweller]

Got it!

[WhitneySnow]

This never happened to me cause I never talked to a person who was officially crazy but I would probably try and understand what they meant

[SnowedIn]

I guess not an automatic dismissal but my time and resources are limited. So, doing the work to verify what the certifiable person said isn't my top priority. On the other hand there are plenty of people who haven't been certified as crazy who have crazy ideas, so... Here's the big thing: communicating with crazy people isn't often linear. It's excruciatingly complex and frustrating. That's what would normally stop me in the first place.