I’m not Crazy, I’m Just a Little Unwell.

As a society we are quick to place identifiers on each other. We use words like “emo” (is that even a word?) meaning someone who has dysregulated feelings. Or more seriously, “psycho” which implies, run.  

Through time, there are many media resources that try to explain this human condition. With the help of “AI” here is a list of songs you may hum to yourself.  

Classic & Rock

• “Crazy Train” – Ozzy Osbourne
• “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” – Metallica
• “People Are Strange” – The Doors
• “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” – Pink Floyd
• “Psycho Killer” – Talking Heads
• “I’m Going Slightly Mad” – Queen
• “Mad World” – Tears for Fears

Pop & Alternative

• “Crazy” – Gnarls Barkley
• “She Drives Me Crazy” – Fine Young Cannibals
• “Mad Hatter” – Melanie Martinez
• “Unwell” – Matchbox Twenty
• “Basket Case” – Green Day

Novelty & Humorous

• “They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!” – Napoleon XIV
• “Insane in the Brain” – Cypress Hill
• “I Wanna Be Sedated” – Ramones

Deeper Dive into Mental Health

• “Breathe Me” – Sia
• “The Dive (Parts 1 & 2)” – Eyedea & Abilities
• “The Man With The Lightbulb Head” – Robyn Hitchcock

Country/Folk

• “People Are Crazy” – Billy Currington
• “Crazy” – Patsy Cline

One of my personal favorites, ”They are coming to take me away” by Neopolean XIV, which wasn’t so far from the truth when I was growing up in the 60’s-70’s. Straight jackets and padded rooms were an option if one “acted the fool”. More recently, and the inspiration for the title “Unwell” by Matchbox Twenty.

In the 1960’s “Psycho” became popular due to Alfred Hitchcock Movies. It is a slang for psychopath” or “psychotic.” The root, “psycho” first appeared in the Iliad and Odyssey written by Homer in the 8th century. In his stories, he was referring to when a soul (the part that survived death) left a body and went to a place he identified as Hades. 

It originates in the ancient Greek writings and actually means “soul” or “breath” which is interesting. Something enters the body and leaves the body. Breath in, breath out. And at the moment of death, the last breath when some believe that the soul exits the earth body.

Life force. That makes us conscious and aware of life. Which is far from the word, “crazy”.

Over time, during the eras of science, Home’s identifier has grown and evolved. 

Philosophers, Plato and Aristotle in the 4th century used the words, “mind and Intellect.”

In the 19th Century Psychiatry was born as a science. With offspring psychology during a twenty-year period 1770 – 1790 the study of the soul and mind. Psychosis was coined in the 1840’s to explain the behavior of someone thought to have a disease of the soul/mind. Then came “psychopath” meaning and individual with a disease with believes and behaviors that are extreme and difficult to manage without proper intervention.

By the 20th century ,still fresh in many of our minds, the word Psycho became to slang for “insane person”.  A total departure from the original meaning.   

Now, we have slang like “cra cra” with a long “a” vowel. “Emo” short for emotionally and many other’s you could have some fun with during a party game. Name as many words as you can for an individual who is “not quite right”.  

The point of this article is to gently and with tongue in cheek, explain that you most likely are not “crazy”.  It is not for you, or your friends to decide. There are trained medical professionals that will help you find the reasons you feel the feelings that you do. Why you behave the way you do, when you get “all up in your feelings or “the feels”  The remedy may be as simple as good sleep, good food, exercise, laughter, healthy relationships, spiritual grounding, sunlight, fresh air and at the very least, Vitamin D. A simple easy to follow recipe for Restoration for the Soul.