Stop Calling Yourself “Crazy”: What That Word Really Means (And Why It Matters)
- Jessica George
- May 6
- 4 min read
A client asked me something recently that I hear more often than you’d think.
They paused mid-session, looked at me with real fear, and said:
“Jessica… am I crazy?”
And without hesitation, I said:
No. You’re not.
Not because I was trying to comfort them. Not because I was being “nice.”But because I’ve been doing this work for 24 years, and I’ve learned something that people rarely get taught:
Most people aren’t “crazy.” They’re overwhelmed. They’re traumatized. They’re stuck. They’re dysregulated. They’re exhausted. They’re living in survival mode. They’re repeating patterns they don’t understand yet.
And calling that “crazy” doesn’t help. It harms.
Why We Use the Word “Crazy”
The word “crazy” has become a shortcut. A lazy label. A throwaway phrase.
We use it when we don’t know how to explain what’s happening inside of us.
“I’m crazy for staying.”
“I’m crazy for reacting like that.”
“I’m acting crazy.”
“My anxiety is making me crazy.”
“Maybe I’m bipolar.”
“Maybe something is wrong with me.”
But what people are really saying is:
“I don’t understand myself, and I’m scared.”
And honestly? That fear makes sense.
Because when you’re anxious, depressed, spiraling, people-pleasing, overthinking, or stuck in relationship cycles… it can feel like your mind is turning against you.
But that isn’t “crazy.” That’s a nervous system in distress.
So What Is “Crazy,” Really?
If we’re going to use the word, we should at least be honest about what it means.
It’s usually a judgment word.
It’s what people say when they don’t want to understand someone. It’s what society says when emotions get too messy. It’s what families say when they don’t want to deal with pain, addiction, grief, trauma, or mental illness.
In other words:
“Crazy” is often what we call things we don’t want to make space for.
And that’s why it’s such a dangerous word.
When “Crazy” Becomes a Weapon
There are times when “crazy” isn’t just casual slang—it becomes a form of emotional harm.
It gets used to shame people.
When someone cries and gets called crazy
When someone has a panic attack and gets dismissed
When someone expresses anger and gets labeled unstable
When someone sets a boundary and gets told they’re dramatic
When someone is grieving and gets told they’re too much
This isn’t just rude. This is a way people manipulate, silence, and control.
If someone has ever used the word “crazy” to make you question yourself, I want you to hear this clearly:
That doesn’t mean you’re unstable. It means you were invalidated.
What You’re Actually Experiencing (Instead of “Crazy”)
When people come to me and say they feel “crazy,” it usually falls into a few categories:
1. Anxiety
Your mind is scanning for danger, even when you’re safe.
2. Trauma responses
Your body reacts like the past is happening again.
3. Emotional dysregulation
You feel emotions intensely and struggle to settle back down.
4. Depression
Your motivation disappears and your thoughts become heavy and hopeless.
5. Relationship conditioning
You’ve learned to abandon yourself to keep peace.
6. Burnout
Your brain isn’t broken. It’s overloaded.
7. Internalized shame
You’ve been taught that your feelings are “too much.”
None of those are “crazy.”They’re patterns. They’re symptoms. They’re survival strategies.
And they can be worked through.
When Is It Okay to Say “Crazy”?
I’m not here to police language. People use the word casually all the time.
You can say:
“That traffic was crazy.”
“This week has been crazy.”
“The weather is crazy.”
Fine.
But when it comes to human emotions and mental health, the word becomes loaded.
Because when you call yourself crazy, you’re not describing yourself…you’re attacking yourself.
And when you call someone else crazy, you’re often saying:
“Your feelings are inconvenient to me.”
That’s not communication.That’s dismissal.
Why Labeling Matters in Therapy
One of the most powerful things we do in therapy is replace shame with clarity.
Instead of “I’m crazy,” we learn to say:
“I’m triggered.”
“I’m overwhelmed.”
“I’m grieving.”
“I’m emotionally flooded.”
“I’m stuck in a trauma response.”
“I’m afraid of abandonment.”
“My nervous system is in fight-or-flight.”
“I’m having intrusive thoughts.”
“I’m repeating an old pattern.”
When you can name it, you can work with it.
When you label it correctly, you stop being afraid of it.
That’s the beginning of healing.
This Is Where My Hybrid Technique Comes In
At my private practice, The Therapy-Coaching Room in Los Angeles (and worldwide via Telehealth), I don’t just “listen and nod.”I don’t do therapy that feels like a weekly vent session that never changes your life.
I’m Jessica George, and I’ve spent 24 years working with individuals, couples, and families using what I call a hybrid therapy + coaching technique.
It’s different because it’s active.
It’s engaging.
It’s structured, but still deeply personal.
It helps you understand yourself and build tools that work in real life.
What that means in practice:
We identify patterns quickly
We break down triggers and emotional responses
We work through childhood programming and relationship dynamics
We create practical strategies you can apply immediately
You work on growth between sessions—not just during them
Clients often tell me:
“This is the first time therapy has actually changed my day-to-day life.”
That’s the goal.
Because therapy should not just make you feel understood…It should make you feel capable.
Voted Top Therapist/Coach in Glendale, CA
I’m proud to share that I’ve been voted a top therapist/coach in Glendale, California, and I don’t take that lightly.
That recognition doesn’t come from being trendy.
It comes from consistency, results, and showing up for people year after year—helping them rebuild their confidence, heal their relationships, and stop feeling like they’re failing at life.
If You’ve Ever Asked Yourself “Am I Crazy?”
Let me answer you the same way I answered my client:
No.
You’re human.
You’re learning.
You’re reacting to something that once hurt you.
And the fact that you’re questioning yourself doesn’t mean you’re broken.
It means you’re becoming aware.
And awareness is the doorway to change.
Ready for a Different Kind of Therapy?
If you’re tired of feeling stuck in cycles…
If you want therapy that’s real, engaging, and transformational…
If you want tools that work between sessions and not just inside the office…
Visit www.Therapy-Coaching.com to learn more about working with me.
Because you don’t need a label.
You need clarity, support, and a strategy.
And you are not crazy.
You’re ready.
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