who here can help diagnose a mental illness?

trick question.  the answer is: none.  the most qualified, well-read mental health professional cannot and will not give a diagnosis in this context.  if they do, they're unethical.

anyone who pretends to be able to give a diagnosis is either (a) misinformed; (b) projecting their own illnes; (c) an undergraduate psych student; or (d) a hypochondriac specializing in self-diagnosis and sharing the wealth.

i hate this crap.  there is absolutely nothing helpful or useful about telling someone you've never met what you think their psychiatric problem is.  it generates fear, perpetuates stigmas, and creates barriers to seeking help (and to receiving help, once sought).

It seems as if only a complete fool would accept a diagnosis from some stranger over the internet.

Original Post by curvesaregood:

It seems as if only a complete fool would accept a diagnosis from some stranger over the internet.

or maybe a confused kid.

Was confused, now closer to truth.

My diagnosis: I think you're all nuts. ;)

Sounds like I missed something that prompted this, but you're right, you can't diagnose someone based on a few posts off the internet or reading a list of symptoms.

This is actually kind of a pet peeve of mine, people who self-diagnose. It seems especially common with Asperger's Syndrome. I've known people who really have this. But I've also seen so many people post something on the internet along the lines of "I was reading a description of Asperger's Syndrom and OMG, I'm socially inept and obsessed with pop culture I MUST BE AN ASPIE!"

ETA: Ok, I just saw the thread that this was about. Not quite in the same vein as self-diagnosed Asperger's.