Can you prove your sanity?

[HollywoodH17]

Only sane people contemplate the ramifications of sanity and insanity. Insane people just are what they are (insane) and don't think about whether they're sane or not; when one questions their own sanity, they have proven that they are sane enough to know that they may not be sane. A good friend of mine named Yossarian helped me figure that out.

 

[sky14kemea]

Eh, depends what it's like in there, if I'm in a room covered in cushions and stuff, then I might as well stay there

But I wouldn't try and prove it, I'd just accept it calmly, >_> That way not seeming as crazy, and hopefully getting let out

 

[JRCB]

Have a casual conversation with one of the doctors on literature? It could work.

Then again, I am crazy, so maybe I belong there.....

 

[LewsTherin]

Nope. Not even a little.

 

[Rawker]

I would convince him he's the insane one, take his badge and suit and leave.

 

[Chipperz]

It's nearly impossible to prove you're sane from the inside, I wouldn't even bother.

Besides, free room and board, happy pills and no responsibility? The only sane thing to do is to stay inside!

 

[Daveman]

I would point out a very distinctive physical feature on my person and explain it.

 

[Jedamethis]

Just start chatting to people about normal things. Like I do on here!

 

[AlexWinter]

I just finished reading One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest yesterday. And it seems nothing you do can prove your sanity. The Combine will break you.

 

[LTK_70]

The real question is, can you prove your sanity to yourself?

 

[The Rockerfly]

Humans are all insane

 

[EnigmaticSevens]

Sanity is a myth, we all reflect one of the thousand faces of madness.

But, meh, I'm a psych major, not a psychologist, but I've enough basic knowledge of DSM-IV diagnostic criteria to feign enough markers of inattentiveness and hyperactivity to feign ADHD. Should be enough to get me some Ritalin and taxi fare.

 

[ribonuge]

That is similar to the scenario of "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest". It all depends on how reasonable the doctor is.

 

[eatenbyagrue]

I can question my sanity, which proves I am capable of rational thought, and therefore reason.

Reason implies a logical process, which means that I have the capacity to take note of my situation, extrapolate the results of any actions I take, and then act on what I believe is the best action.

Because I can question my sanity, I am therefore sane.

 

[sagacious]

ask the doctor "am I insane?" idea is that you cannot possibly be insane if you suspect yourself of being insane. Sort of a catch-22 in your favor.

 

[E-mantheseeker]

It would be difficult to do. I think that the surest way to do it would be to stay calm and try to build a relationship with the doctor where you tell them that you understand their position and the difficulty with discharging you too quickly. Complying with all requests and trying to act as rationally as possible would certainly help. I'd also ask for the opportunity to write to friends or family who could come explain any misunderstanding, preferably bringing my passport with them.

Sorry if this is a derail, but what would you do if when you woke up, they told you had a different name and different life story, and that you'd been in the asylum for some time? Say they had proof (like passport, birth certificate, etc) that you were this new person? How would you try to deal with that?

Well, with proof like that I would either think that I'm being framed by someone with impressive resources, or that I'm in my own mind fighting from the inside to convince myself that I'm sane, but of course if my mind is unstable enough to put me in that scenario I might just be insane... or not. The concept of insanity/sanity is not simple, which is why it interests me so.

 

[Uberjoe19]

I would just be a dick to them for no apparent reason. And then once the higher-ups came, I'd be real polite.

 

[DazZ.]

If I have the internet I would just stay, free food/drugs and internet would be a happy life.

But to prove I was sane in that situation I'd say I think I have amnesia, see if I can get treated for that instead.