Psychological Abuse:
3 Signs of Crazy-Making
by Family, by Friend, by Enemy

Dr. King


by Dr. Jeanne King, Ph.D.


We know it happens; yet when we see it, we’re in shock. And when we experience it, we’re numb. How can a family member, who once claimed to cherish you, plot to back you into a fabricated psychiatric label and sentence of craziness?

That is the question that dumbfounds anyone who walks in these shoes. Sadly, most victims of “crazy-making” don’t realize they are walking this path until the psychiatric doors are locked...until the psychotropic drugs are administered...until their lives are changed, dramatically and indefinitely.

Would you know if you are a victim of the psychological abuse of “crazy-making” by your own family member/s?

How do you know if “crazy-making” strategies are in play?

1) Your “loved one” encourages you to see a counselor with them or see a counselor of their choosing. They say you need help or your relationship with them needs help, and they want to assist in your getting the help they want you to have. Yet, you have no symptoms for which you know to warrant such an intervention.

2) Your “loved one” or the counselor chosen by, or consulted with, your loved one encourages you to self-admit yourself for a psychiatric evaluation in the absence of symptoms that disturb you. Your voluntary admission into a psychiatric evaluation is much like you taking the weapon they seek to use to compromise you and your liberties, aim it at yourself and pull the trigger.

This protects those involved in the crazy-making maneuver from any liability of falsely utilizing the system to have you committed. It’s much like talking you into your own suicide, after which there is no murder, no murderers...no one to blame but you.

3) Your compliance with your own psychiatric admission becomes the condition for you to maintain rights that are being denied or being threatened to be denied. If you resist your voluntary admission into the sought-after psychiatric evaluation, then the thing you fear losing becomes the “carrot” to manipulate you to re-consider. This reconsideration re-invites you, manipulates you, to cooperate in your voluntary psychological evaluation and ultimate crazy-making maneuver.

Sounds crazy? You bet, it’s crazy. And sadly, this happens more often than most mental health professionals care to admit.

If you find yourself confronted with another person’s campaign to make you “crazy,” certifiably so, take a hard and honest look at what’s in store, before you become another victim of this form of psychological abuse.

For more information about family abuse and crazy making, see Crazy Making Legal-Psychiatric Abuse: Signs and Prevention. Dr. Jeanne King, Ph.D. helps people recognize, end and heal from family abuse at home and through the system.


Copyright 2009 Dr. Jeanne King, Ph.D. www.PreventAbusiveRelationships.com All Rights Reserved.



This series of eInsights is presented to you by Partners in Prevention, a nonprofit organization. If you find this eInsight article useful, we invite you to contribute to the maintenance and growth of the Survivor Success Tips & eInsights. To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit www.EndDomesticAbuse.org

Dr. Jeanne King is a licensed psychologist and domestic abuse consultant. Feel free to contact us if you need help with physical and/or emotional pain, stress-related illnesses, or relationship abuse issues at home or in court. Contact Us to reach Dr. King.