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Friends and Families of Psychiatric Survivors of Wisconsin

"Psychotic" or "Psychopathic"?

They're not the same.

Psychotic means a break with consensus reality.
 
People with pschosis can and do have fully-developed consciences. In fact, considering the inner reality they have to deal with, it's a wonder they control themselves as well as they do.
 
Add to that the torture and sadism that is inflicted on them by their "treatment providers".
 
Most non- mentally disabled people could not survive.
 
The fact that they can even manage to live peacefully day-to-day is a testimony to their courage, wisdom, strength and intelligence.
 
They are special people, with unique gifts. We are blessed to have them among us. We should be ashamed of the way we have abused and mistreated them.

Psychopathic means lacking a conscience.
 
There is no break with consensus reality. The person with psychopathic tendencies just doesn't care.

The media has made a habit of using the two words, "psychotic" and "psychopathic" interchangeably. This------as well as many of the other things the media reports about "the mentally ill"-------is just another derogatory stereotype about people with psych disabilities.

People diagnosed with psychosis are far more likely to be the victim of a violent crime than to be the perpetrator of one.