The way I see it is If someone is concerned about their mental health, its likely they will wonder what is wrong and maybe even do a little of their own research...perhaps they become concerned they have that condition to the point they think its more than likely...so long as that person is not claiming they have been diagnosed and is willing to talk to a mental health professional about the concern I don't really see the harm. Also doctors aren't infallible either, so sometimes you do have to take their opinion with a grain of salt to, if you really feel a doctor was wrong getting a second opinion isn't an issue.

What I find insulting is the attitude its harmful to do anything other than remain entirely oblivious to the fact you might have a mental health condition, or worse you actually suspect a specific one . I mean people with mental health issues do have brains, we aren't stupid and can read about symptoms and realize if we are concerned about symptoms that match up for a disorder.

Two conditions I have I basically determined I had before getting it diagnosed...I suspected aspergers syndrome and PTSD at different times. Well now I have both diagnoses because doctors/mental health people diagnosed them. When I first tried to talk to a school counseler and get into therapy for my concerns of having PTSD I didn't get taken seriously at all so it got worse, and finally I was able to get it diagnosed.

So yeah I think proclaiming 'i have this disorder without a doubt' without having a diagnoses is a bit much...but I think it is very possible to experience symptoms and gather a pretty good idea of what you might be dealing with....I wouldn't see harm in telling a doctor 'I am concerned I have PTSD' if it turns out they are wrong I am sure that could be discussed but I don't see why a doctor should be insulted because someone got concerned and looked up some information about what they could be dealing with.

Do doctors get all up in arms about this sort of thing when it comes to physical stuff? or is it just us mental people who are supposed to be too stupid to have any comprehension or valid imput about anything?...like if someone has a lump somewhere and are concerned its cancerous so think they 'have cancer' only to find out its not cancerous and they can breathe easy, or they find out it is and have to plan how to treat that and cope with it.

Also I notice in the article it talks about diagnosing yourself and going and getting a medication/treatment that doesn't work. Wouldn't it be incompetency on the part of the doctor to just give someone a medication because they say 'I have (insert condition)' without any diagnoses....isn't it the doctors job to 'diagnose' before giving someone a medication or treatment plan? Also though, it is possible even if you have a condition that specific med is supposed to help...everyone is different so it still might not work even if it is the right diagnoses.