You're right. There are a lot of misconceptions because the majority of people has never tried strong psychedelic drugs like psilocybin or LSD, so their information is based entirely on hearsay. Both in the negative sense ("you can permanently 'fry' your brain", "you'll jump out of the window", etc), as well as positive myths like that it's going to solve all your mental issues.
I'm not fully sure regarding the last sentence though. The important thing to know for those who have never experienced it and who have issues that could come out during the trip is that you need to care A LOT about set and setting. You should have an experienced person whom you fully trust and who can guide you through the experience. Don't do it on your own when you're in a bad state, that's pretty much the worst way to take psychedelics and basically asking for the trip to go wrong. And you'll want to avoid strangers as well unless you're super extroverted maybe.
Also, and that's my personal take, don't sign up to questionable retreats or scientific studies/therapies conducted by self-proclaimed experts who have never taken it themselves. Just because someone has a degree in psychology - a questionable science to begin with when you look at all the failed attempts to replicate the findings - it doesn't mean they understand how it feels to be on a psychedelic trip.
If you have mental health issues and you try to self medicate with psychedelics just know you’re playing with fire. I’ve had one positive-ish and three negative-ish ones myself. I get a lot of anxiety and mania for some reason on the second half which tends to make me kind of spiral and there’s sometimes not much to grab onto when you’re deep in it. If you really must do it alone , having something like a benzo on hand can help if things go off the rails.
I'm not fully sure regarding the last sentence though. The important thing to know for those who have never experienced it and who have issues that could come out during the trip is that you need to care A LOT about set and setting. You should have an experienced person whom you fully trust and who can guide you through the experience. Don't do it on your own when you're in a bad state, that's pretty much the worst way to take psychedelics and basically asking for the trip to go wrong. And you'll want to avoid strangers as well unless you're super extroverted maybe.
Also, and that's my personal take, don't sign up to questionable retreats or scientific studies/therapies conducted by self-proclaimed experts who have never taken it themselves. Just because someone has a degree in psychology - a questionable science to begin with when you look at all the failed attempts to replicate the findings - it doesn't mean they understand how it feels to be on a psychedelic trip.