On the Use of “Psycho”

Psycho

A word used fairly often in everyday lexicology. But what does “psycho” actually mean ?

Logic states “psycho” is short for “psychotic”, and psychotic is a medical term for a mental health condition.

So “psycho” is used positively to spread awareness about dysfunctional mental health states of being, right ?

Wrong

I’ve seen a psychotic break in person

And they called ME the “psycho”

And repeatedly gaslit me into believing I was the irrational one

So what does a psychotic episode actually look like from the outside ?

And how has the breakdown of modern medical lexicology failed us so deeply ?

Or perhaps it is society’s perception of mental illness that created these sorts of misunderstandings

Who knows ?

Surely not me

Honestly, I don’t want to get involved

So what does “psycho” mean to me ?

I’ve been using the word way too liberally. Calling people “psycho” for acting on their emotions seems too loose. In that instance, we’re all “psycho” a lot of the time.

Psychotic episodes are real things. I direct you to Albert Camus’ L’étranger

People on psychotic breaks are completely irrational and very difficult to reality check. They are very likely to gaslight the outsider into believing they’re the “psycho” one in their delusional fantasy.

Do we all need a reality check ?

Long story short, psychotic breaks are DANGEROUS, if one was to interefere.

They’re not something to be taken lightly or joked about.

Would you know a psychotic break if it was staring you right in the face ?

So I call to use the word “psycho” more rigidly, to call attention to what real psychotic episodes look like, instead of labeling each and every emotional person as “psycho”

Blessed & best,

Em

<3