Watch out!

During my very first psychopathology lecture—held over at the university clinic—some guy walked into the classroom, looking incredibly serious. He gave us a quick nod, introduced himself as our professor, and... well, he got straight to work.

He talked about illnesses.
About disorders.
And various diagnoses.

The man was throwing around heavy terminology like he was getting paid by the syllable, just rattling off terms while we all sat there staring at each other, desperately trying to scribble everything down.

Then he moved on to case studies and patients, though it was impossible to ignore the palpable sense of contempt in his voice whenever he mentioned them.

Suddenly, a woman walked in accompanied by two nurses.
She greeted the class, acknowledged the "professor," and took her seat at the head of the room while the nurses escorted our "colleague" out. She then turned to us and asked one question.

"Which one of you actually believed he was a professor?"

Every single one of us raised our hands.

Unbelievable.

Kenneth Peterson5—whenever someone on a forum starts handing out clinical diagnoses or life advice based on thin evidence like "I didn't grow up with my father"—just know you're likely dealing with a "professor."

Being able to toss around technical jargon certainly suggests a person is familiar with the subject matter.

But it doesn't tell you if they're familiar with it as an expert, or simply as a patient.

So, please, be skeptical when accepting "professional" advice from internet forums.

That’s all.

Dear Sasha,

Do you actually take all this advice from the self-proclaimed "professors" and "experts" on here? Honestly, who could buy into any of it? 😂 If we wrote a screenplay based on some of the nonsense posted in this thread, we'd have enough material for at least 50 psychological thrillers.

All joking aside, your warning is spot on. People love to play authority, and the naive among us—and let’s be honest, we’ve all been there, as you mentioned—tend to believe them simply because they're desperate for answers. 👍

Best,

What you’re saying is technically spot on, but honestly, it’s also incredibly confusing.
Let me try to break this down.
If I’ve got issues I want to vent about here—looking to grab some pointers from people who actually know their stuff or have been through the same ringer—how am I supposed to know what anyone’s profession is or why it even matters?
Because based on what you just typed, there’s basically zero point in coming to this forum to talk about anything with anyone.
Like, looking at your intro post, someone could easily assume you’re "the expert" or whatever—the one authority we should all listen to. But how am I meant to verify that? What if I mess up big time because I decided to follow *only* your advice? What if you're out here claiming to be some high-level "college professor" when you're really not?

Bottom line: I don't really get the point of this thread, or why you feel such a massive need to kick it off in the first place.

Kenneth Peterson5, give me a break.

(And by "give me a break," I mean I see you lurking on every single thread, demanding justifications and deep dives into everyone's motives.)

I rarely find myself browsing this specific forum.

I get it—sometimes people are dealing with real issues but feel too uneasy about seeing a doctor, so they take the path of least resistance by trying to DIY their problems online.

My goal with this topic is actually quite well-intentioned: I want to advise people that seeking help from verified professionals is much smarter than relying on internet advice. In my experience scrolling through here, I've run into plenty of cases where users offer suggestions that aren't just uneducated, but are downright catastrophic—the kind of bad advice that turns a minor issue into a total disaster.

Do you honestly think it’s unnecessary to warn forum users when someone starts "prescribing" medications or treatment plans?

If so, I suppose your stance is that anyone naive enough to follow amateur medical advice should simply be left to deal with the consequences of their own ignorance.

Kenneth Peterson5 said:What you’re saying is technically spot on, but honestly, it’s also incredibly confusing.
Let me try to break this down.
If I’ve got issues I want to vent about here—looking to grab some pointers from people who actually know their stuff or have been through the same ringer—how am I supposed to know what anyone’s profession is or why it even matters?
Because based on what you just typed, there’s basically zero point in coming to this forum to talk about anything with anyone.
Like, looking at your intro post, someone could easily assume you’re "the expert" or whatever—the one authority we should all listen to. But how am I meant to verify that? What if I mess up big time because I decided to follow *only* your advice? What if you're out here claiming to be some high-level "college professor" when you're really not?

Bottom line: I don't really get the point of this thread, or why you feel such a massive need to kick it off in the first place.

I’m with you on this.
How can we actually verify the validity of what she’s claiming regarding her professor or the specific college courses she supposedly completed? 🙄

We need to be careful here. People come to forums like this to unwind or vent, but you also have trolls who treat everything as a game, making things up just for the hell of it. In my experience, those types are often the most prevalent group—so where does that leave us? How are we meant to PROVE someone is being sincere rather than just killing time with fabrications?
🤔

Kenneth Peterson5 said:What you’re saying is technically spot on, but honestly, it’s also incredibly confusing.
Let me try to break this down.
If I’ve got issues I want to vent about here—looking to grab some pointers from people who actually know their stuff or have been through the same ringer—how am I supposed to know what anyone’s profession is or why it even matters?
Because based on what you just typed, there’s basically zero point in coming to this forum to talk about anything with anyone.
Like, looking at your intro post, someone could easily assume you’re "the expert" or whatever—the one authority we should all listen to. But how am I meant to verify that? What if I mess up big time because I decided to follow *only* your advice? What if you're out here claiming to be some high-level "college professor" when you're really not?

Bottom line: I don't really get the point of this thread, or why you feel such a massive need to kick it off in the first place.

First off, there are plenty of ways to tell when someone definitely ISN'T a professional.
(For instance—a licensed psychologist isn't going to be handing out clinical diagnoses on an internet forum;

a legitimate psychologist won't offer a definitive solution based on a single data point or one vague post with zero context;

you should probably try to figure that part out for yourself.)

Kenneth Peterson5 said:What you’re saying is technically spot on, but honestly, it’s also incredibly confusing.
Let me try to break this down.
If I’ve got issues I want to vent about here—looking to grab some pointers from people who actually know their stuff or have been through the same ringer—how am I supposed to know what anyone’s profession is or why it even matters?
Because based on what you just typed, there’s basically zero point in coming to this forum to talk about anything with anyone.
Like, looking at your intro post, someone could easily assume you’re "the expert" or whatever—the one authority we should all listen to. But how am I meant to verify that? What if I mess up big time because I decided to follow *only* your advice? What if you're out here claiming to be some high-level "college professor" when you're really not?

Bottom line: I don't really get the point of this thread, or why you feel such a massive need to kick it off in the first place.

Talking makes sense.
The "Caution" note is simply a warning against accepting advice that is being presented as "expert" when it isn't.

Kenneth Peterson5 said:What you’re saying is technically spot on, but honestly, it’s also incredibly confusing.
Let me try to break this down.
If I’ve got issues I want to vent about here—looking to grab some pointers from people who actually know their stuff or have been through the same ringer—how am I supposed to know what anyone’s profession is or why it even matters?
Because based on what you just typed, there’s basically zero point in coming to this forum to talk about anything with anyone.
Like, looking at your intro post, someone could easily assume you’re "the expert" or whatever—the one authority we should all listen to. But how am I meant to verify that? What if I mess up big time because I decided to follow *only* your advice? What if you're out here claiming to be some high-level "college professor" when you're really not?

Bottom line: I don't really get the point of this thread, or why you feel such a massive need to kick it off in the first place.

Yes, you could certainly make a mistake if you followed my advice to avoid seeking professional help through anonymous people on the internet.
That would be incredibly poor, dirty, malicious, and unprofessional advice based on questionable logic.
Please don't take it to heart. You'll be better off without it.

Kenneth Peterson5 said:What you’re saying is technically spot on, but honestly, it’s also incredibly confusing.
Let me try to break this down.
If I’ve got issues I want to vent about here—looking to grab some pointers from people who actually know their stuff or have been through the same ringer—how am I supposed to know what anyone’s profession is or why it even matters?
Because based on what you just typed, there’s basically zero point in coming to this forum to talk about anything with anyone.
Like, looking at your intro post, someone could easily assume you’re "the expert" or whatever—the one authority we should all listen to. But how am I meant to verify that? What if I mess up big time because I decided to follow *only* your advice? What if you're out here claiming to be some high-level "college professor" when you're really not?

Bottom line: I don't really get the point of this thread, or why you feel such a massive need to kick it off in the first place.

In conclusion, the fact that you constantly (and selectively) wrap up comments with these little summaries annoys me just as much as the following: 🤷 a smiley face.

Where does this obsession with second-guessing everyone else's motives come from?

Jerry Green59 said:Kenneth Peterson5, give me a break.

(And by "give me a break," I mean I see you lurking on every single thread, demanding justifications and deep dives into everyone's motives.)

I rarely find myself browsing this specific forum.

I get it—sometimes people are dealing with real issues but feel too uneasy about seeing a doctor, so they take the path of least resistance by trying to DIY their problems online.

My goal with this topic is actually quite well-intentioned: I want to advise people that seeking help from verified professionals is much smarter than relying on internet advice. In my experience scrolling through here, I've run into plenty of cases where users offer suggestions that aren't just uneducated, but are downright catastrophic—the kind of bad advice that turns a minor issue into a total disaster.

Do you honestly think it’s unnecessary to warn forum users when someone starts "prescribing" medications or treatment plans?

If so, I suppose your stance is that anyone naive enough to follow amateur medical advice should simply be left to deal with the consequences of their own ignorance.

I guess you'll be an expert one day too...👎That’s a pretty brutal way to start a post. Honestly, I don't get why you're being so rude to this girl; she clearly knows what she's talking about.

I didn't realize anyone here was posting as some kind of authority figure. It seems pretty delusional to think that someone coming to this forum with a problem believes they're going to find a panel of world-class experts. I have no idea why you assumed people here are presenting themselves as professionals.

From where I'm sitting, I just see real, sensitive people sharing their views, their unique perspectives, and their own personal experiences regarding certain issues.

You're underselling both the people asking for help—by assuming they're too clueless to realize there aren't pros behind these posts—and those responding, by acting like everyone here is just some internet doctor trying to play physician.

Jerry Green59 said:First off, there are plenty of ways to tell when someone definitely ISN'T a professional.
(For instance—a licensed psychologist isn't going to be handing out clinical diagnoses on an internet forum;

a legitimate psychologist won't offer a definitive solution based on a single data point or one vague post with zero context;

you should probably try to figure that part out for yourself.)

Talking makes sense.
The "Caution" note is simply a warning against accepting advice that is being presented as "expert" when it isn't.

Yes, you could certainly make a mistake if you followed my advice to avoid seeking professional help through anonymous people on the internet.
That would be incredibly poor, dirty, malicious, and unprofessional advice based on questionable logic.
Please don't take it to heart. You'll be better off without it.

In conclusion, the fact that you constantly (and selectively) wrap up comments with these little summaries annoys me just as much as the following: 🤷 a smiley face.

Where does this obsession with second-guessing everyone else's motives come from?

Wow, someone's being aggressive.
Are you sure you didn't skip out on finishing college?
If you think you're in a position to lecture anyone else... yikes, such a pity.

Jeremy Palmer said:I guess you'll be an expert one day too...👎That’s a pretty brutal way to start a post. Honestly, I don't get why you're being so rude to this girl; she clearly knows what she's talking about.

I didn't realize anyone here was posting as some kind of authority figure. It seems pretty delusional to think that someone coming to this forum with a problem believes they're going to find a panel of world-class experts. I have no idea why you assumed people here are presenting themselves as professionals.

From where I'm sitting, I just see real, sensitive people sharing their views, their unique perspectives, and their own personal experiences regarding certain issues.

You're underselling both the people asking for help—by assuming they're too clueless to realize there aren't pros behind these posts—and those responding, by acting like everyone here is just some internet doctor trying to play physician.

I would personally put my signature right under what Jeremy Palmer just wrote.

Now, don't get me wrong; I am certainly not so naive as to blindly accept advice found online, especially when it concerns medical matters. I didn't join this forum to crowdsource my healthcare; for anything truly "professional," I consult actual specialists and have immense respect for professionals 😉...

So, in my view, the people sharing their struggles here aren't "fools who don't realize that behind these posts are regular people, not experts"...and on the flip side, as Jeremy so eloquently pointed out, I also see "living, sensitive beings offering their own vision of things"...and a perspective built on personal experience is something that shouldn't be dismissed quite so easily. Of course, you still have to wade through the trolls, the provocateurs, and—shame on them—the people with bad intentions, but you also encounter incredibly intelligent, fascinating, and truly valuable individuals (just like you would in real life). 🙂

Why did the opening post cause such a massive stir? 😁

slypuma17 said:I’m with you on this.
How can we actually verify the validity of what she’s claiming regarding her professor or the specific college courses she supposedly completed? 🙄

We need to be careful here. People come to forums like this to unwind or vent, but you also have trolls who treat everything as a game, making things up just for the hell of it. In my experience, those types are often the most prevalent group—so where does that leave us? How are we meant to PROVE someone is being sincere rather than just killing time with fabrications?
🤔

Doesn't matter. This whole "my professor said so" routine is a classic trope you see on TV all the time, but the core issue remains the same.

slypuma17 said:I’m with you on this.
How can we actually verify the validity of what she’s claiming regarding her professor or the specific college courses she supposedly completed? 🙄

We need to be careful here. People come to forums like this to unwind or vent, but you also have trolls who treat everything as a game, making things up just for the hell of it. In my experience, those types are often the most prevalent group—so where does that leave us? How are we meant to PROVE someone is being sincere rather than just killing time with fabrications?
🤔

It’s irrelevant.
What matters is spotting the people spreading lies that could actually hurt someone.
And those are usually the ones who have mastered technical jargon perfectly... only to use it to make things up.
I don't know why they do it... probably just some personal frustrations they need to vent.

Jeremy Palmer said:I guess you'll be an expert one day too...👎That’s a pretty brutal way to start a post. Honestly, I don't get why you're being so rude to this girl; she clearly knows what she's talking about.

I didn't realize anyone here was posting as some kind of authority figure. It seems pretty delusional to think that someone coming to this forum with a problem believes they're going to find a panel of world-class experts. I have no idea why you assumed people here are presenting themselves as professionals.

From where I'm sitting, I just see real, sensitive people sharing their views, their unique perspectives, and their own personal experiences regarding certain issues.

You're underselling both the people asking for help—by assuming they're too clueless to realize there aren't pros behind these posts—and those responding, by acting like everyone here is just some internet doctor trying to play physician.

Oh, I certainly am.

Jeremy Palmer said:I guess you'll be an expert one day too...👎That’s a pretty brutal way to start a post. Honestly, I don't get why you're being so rude to this girl; she clearly knows what she's talking about.

I didn't realize anyone here was posting as some kind of authority figure. It seems pretty delusional to think that someone coming to this forum with a problem believes they're going to find a panel of world-class experts. I have no idea why you assumed people here are presenting themselves as professionals.

From where I'm sitting, I just see real, sensitive people sharing their views, their unique perspectives, and their own personal experiences regarding certain issues.

You're underselling both the people asking for help—by assuming they're too clueless to realize there aren't pros behind these posts—and those responding, by acting like everyone here is just some internet doctor trying to play physician.

Even though you didn't ask me, I'll tell you exactly why I reached that conclusion.
It's based on their command of terminology and their communication style.
They aren't just throwing out solutions after hearing one tiny piece of data;
they're using the exact kind of questions and conversational patterns a psychologist or therapist would use in a session.
A real expert might be able to turn a tiny grain of doubt into a smoking gun to expose a fraud, but the reality is that plenty of people won't suspect a thing, and some might even fall for the "solutions" being offered, don't you think?
You don't have to be an idiot to fall for a polished presentation.

Jeremy Palmer said:I guess you'll be an expert one day too...👎That’s a pretty brutal way to start a post. Honestly, I don't get why you're being so rude to this girl; she clearly knows what she's talking about.

I didn't realize anyone here was posting as some kind of authority figure. It seems pretty delusional to think that someone coming to this forum with a problem believes they're going to find a panel of world-class experts. I have no idea why you assumed people here are presenting themselves as professionals.

From where I'm sitting, I just see real, sensitive people sharing their views, their unique perspectives, and their own personal experiences regarding certain issues.

You're underselling both the people asking for help—by assuming they're too clueless to realize there aren't pros behind these posts—and those responding, by acting like everyone here is just some internet doctor trying to play physician.

Why would you assume it’s stupid to think the person posting could be an expert and just an average person at the same time?
Some of the responders really are idiots, specifically those acting like "professors."
They’re all over this place, and honestly, I can't tell if you just don't care, or if you actually think it's impossible for that to happen.🙄

Since we're going there, I might as well get specific....
I ran into one particular "professor" once (female, but I won't specify the gender since there's a username that makes it confusing)
She had every single one of the traits mentioned above
And on top of that... reading through her other posts where she wasn't even trying to offer psychological help, it's pretty obvious this "expert" has some serious personal baggage of her own... and I mean a lot more than just a little.

Jerry Green59 said:During my very first psychopathology lecture—held over at the university clinic—some guy walked into the classroom, looking incredibly serious. He gave us a quick nod, introduced himself as our professor, and... well, he got straight to work.

He talked about illnesses.
About disorders.
And various diagnoses.

The man was throwing around heavy terminology like he was getting paid by the syllable, just rattling off terms while we all sat there staring at each other, desperately trying to scribble everything down.

Then he moved on to case studies and patients, though it was impossible to ignore the palpable sense of contempt in his voice whenever he mentioned them.

Suddenly, a woman walked in accompanied by two nurses.
She greeted the class, acknowledged the "professor," and took her seat at the head of the room while the nurses escorted our "colleague" out. She then turned to us and asked one question.

"Which one of you actually believed he was a professor?"

Every single one of us raised our hands.

Unbelievable.

Kenneth Peterson5—whenever someone on a forum starts handing out clinical diagnoses or life advice based on thin evidence like "I didn't grow up with my father"—just know you're likely dealing with a "professor."

Being able to toss around technical jargon certainly suggests a person is familiar with the subject matter.

But it doesn't tell you if they're familiar with it as an expert, or simply as a patient.

So, please, be skeptical when accepting "professional" advice from internet forums.

That’s all.

I think that’s a fair comment, whether you call it a warning or whatever else.

Jeremy Palmer said:I guess you'll be an expert one day too...👎That’s a pretty brutal way to start a post. Honestly, I don't get why you're being so rude to this girl; she clearly knows what she's talking about.

I didn't realize anyone here was posting as some kind of authority figure. It seems pretty delusional to think that someone coming to this forum with a problem believes they're going to find a panel of world-class experts. I have no idea why you assumed people here are presenting themselves as professionals.

From where I'm sitting, I just see real, sensitive people sharing their views, their unique perspectives, and their own personal experiences regarding certain issues.

You're underselling both the people asking for help—by assuming they're too clueless to realize there aren't pros behind these posts—and those responding, by acting like everyone here is just some internet doctor trying to play physician.

It's because she made it perfectly clear that she doesn't want me sugarcoating anything, which is exactly why I respond the way I do. 😛

@Sandra Parker3, thanks—you just saved me a significant amount of typing. 😁

One more thing:
I get it. A lot of these questions are born out of pure boredom, and some "problems" shouldn't be taken literally or even seriously.

But,
if one person asks a serious question about a serious issue,
and then proceeds to follow one piece of "expert" advice (which was clearly given just to satisfy the ego of the person giving it),
then that one person is one too many.

Alright, now that things are finally starting to clear up a bit, I gotta ask—who exactly is dropping these "expert" tips in this PDF?
I mean, what’s even the point of this whole board if we can't call out the problems when we see them?
And who here actually thinks they're qualified enough to point fingers at the specific people—or just one person—giving out "professional" advice on serious issues while being totally clueless?

(@Jeremy Palmer, thanks for sticking up for my little rant, but Jerry Green59 is just being himself, and honestly, I've got a lot of work to do to get on your level. What can I say? Maybe I'm just a masochist. 😁)

No, you definitely aren't going to make a masterpiece out of this.

The warning is pretty straightforward: don't take advice at face value—especially when it's based on a single data point or some incredibly thin information.

Jerry Green59 said:No, you definitely aren't going to make a masterpiece out of this.

The warning is pretty straightforward: don't take advice at face value—especially when it's based on a single data point or some incredibly thin information.

I don't see the point of this thread if it's just about well-meaning advice that everyone is already aware of. Based on your opening post, I thought we were looking at a legitimate issue, but since that’s clearly not the case, I’m gonna say hi to everyone and bow out of this debate.

(If you're actually that worried about everyone's well-being here, maybe just put "don't take advice at face value" in your signature and call it a day.)

Kenneth Peterson5 said:Alright, now that things are finally starting to clear up a bit, I gotta ask—who exactly is dropping these "expert" tips in this PDF?
I mean, what’s even the point of this whole board if we can't call out the problems when we see them?
And who here actually thinks they're qualified enough to point fingers at the specific people—or just one person—giving out "professional" advice on serious issues while being totally clueless?

(@Jeremy Palmer, thanks for sticking up for my little rant, but Jerry Green59 is just being himself, and honestly, I've got a lot of work to do to get on your level. What can I say? Maybe I'm just a masochist. 😁)

Honestly, I wish I could just stay quiet too
- Who are these people on this subforum acting like psychiatrists or specialists, trying to run a therapy clinic through their posts?
- Or better yet, who are the ones pretending to be professionals just to mislead innocent users with psychological jargon?
- Does anyone actually know someone who was misled by these "experts," potentially leading them down the wrong path and making their situation worse?

If the original post included actual facts, it would carry much more weight because it would be based on reality rather than just a gut feeling.

Kenneth Peterson5 — I'm not quite sure what to say to you. This woman basically told you straight up that you're talking nonsense and that your comments are getting on her nerves, yet you claim to enjoy her exact way of being... I was really expecting your usual style of sharp, intelligent rebuttals backed by solid logic... but hey, if that's the kind of treatment you're into... 🙂

-Personally, I don't mind if someone's just trying to offer some genuine, well-meaning advice
(without digging too deep into someone's private business)...
-but trying to dictate someone's dosage or
telling them to scale back on meds they were officially prescribed by a doctor based on a single sentence or some vague info... that's just plain wrong. It's honestly pretty childish.

@Jeremy Palmer-which ones?
-I ran into this guy who, because of his own little "convictions," was basically telling people to ditch their therapy (questioning how they even function without it). He even went on record advocating for drugs, publicly... and now, word is he's actually on medication himself...(you know the type...)
-There were even hints of actual illegal activity involved, but isn't that what the moderators are here for?? To step in when posts cross the line.👎

Who exactly is dictating which medications people can discuss? 😕

From what I can gather, users who actually utilize certain drugs tend to bring them up within specific threads.

Besides, you can't even walk into a CVS or Walgreens and pick up these meds without a prescription—something you certainly won't find being handed out on an online forum. So, I really don't see why everyone is losing their minds. 🤷

Seriously, I fail to see the cause for panic.

-Look, I didn't say they were just copying prescriptions, I just happened to stumble upon how they handle certain therapies... you know, the whole "you don't really need them" or "it's all about willpower" angle... plus all that talk about how those specific meds are actually harmful for things like schizophrenia or psychosis, and how nobody ever truly gets better by using them... stuff like that...

Jerry Green59 said:It's because she made it perfectly clear that she doesn't want me sugarcoating anything, which is exactly why I respond the way I do. 😛

@Sandra Parker3, thanks—you just saved me a significant amount of typing. 😁

One more thing:
I get it. A lot of these questions are born out of pure boredom, and some "problems" shouldn't be taken literally or even seriously.

But,
if one person asks a serious question about a serious issue,
and then proceeds to follow one piece of "expert" advice (which was clearly given just to satisfy the ego of the person giving it),
then that one person is one too many.

But what about all that garbage advice you see in tabloids, like the New York Post?

I've lost count of how many times I've seen people fall for their nonsense—lies, scams, straight-up manipulation, twisting facts... you name it. And when you actually try to warn people, they just stare at you like you're the crazy one, saying, "Are you kidding? It was in the paper!"

And don't even get me started on the rest of the mainstream media outlets. They're all running the same playbook, maybe just slightly less aggressively than the Post, which is basically the gold standard for this kind of junk.

Donna Sullivan7 said:-Look, I didn't say they were just copying prescriptions, I just happened to stumble upon how they handle certain therapies... you know, the whole "you don't really need them" or "it's all about willpower" angle... plus all that talk about how those specific meds are actually harmful for things like schizophrenia or psychosis, and how nobody ever truly gets better by using them... stuff like that...

Unfortunately, I know exactly the kind of crowd you're talking about. 🙄

Shouldn't posts like these be sent over to the alternative? 🤷