Do mad people know they are mad?

They have no clue how far gone they are

Some do, some don't. Delusional people have no idea.

Some do, some don't - depends on the individual.

I don't really know. I suspect you'd really have to define "mad" to get an exact answer. I do recall it being said in some movie that crazy people don't know they are crazy. But, I don't think that's absolutely accurate.

For example, there are some highly functioning schizophrenics in our society that are aware of their condition and even manage to cope with it such that they have successful careers. Perhaps, one of the most notable is John Forbes Nash, Jr.. He's a Nobel prize (pseudo/economics) winning genius who is also a schizophrenic. He was the subject of the movie: "A Beautiful Mind". Another example is Elyn Saks who is a successful lawyer and teacher. I recommend listening to her NPR interview (linked from the wikipedia article). She recently wrote her autobiography (The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness) which was highly rated.

On the other hand, I'm sure there must be some "mad" people who don't know it. Thus, the correct answer is likely "Some do, some don't."

Yes, and no. Up to a point, yes they know. Once the disease takes total hold, I don't believe they know, have lost reasoning.

My mother died of dementia. It was heart wrenching watching her "die", but living. She would grab her head, telling me something was wrong. She at times would ask me who I was. Towards the end, we met up with my cousin (her brother's son), and I saw my mother go up to him...look at him carefully. She evidently recognized him to a point. My cousin looks exactly like his dad.

My thought is the mind dies when the body is over acidous, toxic. You can't separate the mind/body.

Some do, some don't

Fudge off.

I would expect this is relative to the madness itself.

Sometimes it just the way they are- i personally sometimes just realize I'm mad until after the decision is over.

I totally forgot I was pretending to be nuts in qualification until just now.

Some.

If they're mad scientists they're smart enough to figure it out. If they're some homeless guy or crazy woman on the bus talking nonsense, probably not.

Yes, some would. Depends upon the disorder and level of incapacitation.

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

I think everyone is crazy.

Gosh. "weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" is not in the dictionary. Are you aware of this?

Those words you've used to describe "mad" have such different meanings, it's too jumbled to answer. Demented people often don't know. Mentally disturbed and deranged people often do know. Depends why someone is insane. I'm gonna rather unhappily say some do, some don't.

"There's a little bit of fruitcake in every one of us" -Jimmy Buffett

I think some do and some don't.

Some do, some don't.

some do and some don't, i worked in a locked down psych ward and many of them knew why they were there. some didn't.

I'm sure some do and some don't.

I think when I eventually go mad I'll be vaguely aware of myself. I have a sense of that already.

I guess some do realize it. But mad is only what we define it.

Gawd that man loves fruit.

Don't be mad!

Some do, some don't

Some do, some don't. We all go a little crazy now and then. I have tried sanity, I have tried insanity..Insanity is better.

> I totally forgot I was pretending to be nuts
> in qualification until just now.

pretending.... lol

Hey. Watch it...

Many of them.