Dietary Supplements: Myths and Reality—What Really Works and What’s Dangerous

Magnesium for anxiety. Omega-3 for depression. Ashwagandha for stress. St. John’s wort instead of antidepressants. Melatonin for insomnia. Mushrooms—for just about everything… Though, to be fair, the people who talk about mushrooms are usually the ones who didn’t end up seeing the on-call psychiatrist afterward.

What the Dietary Supplement Industry Promises

The dietary supplement industry promises us peace of mind, a good night’s sleep, more energy, and even an improved mood—all “naturally,” without side effects or trips to the doctor. But is it really that safe? Psychotherapist Arseny Gusev will explain.

What to Expect in This Lecture

In this lecture, we’ll examine which popular supplements are backed by evidence, where they actually work, and where—at best—you’ve simply paid a lot of money for nothing.

Topics and Examples

We’ll talk about dietary supplements that actually help with:

• anxiety and irritability
• low mood
• sleep problems
• stress and burnout

We’ll also discuss microdosing, herbal remedies, and the industry’s biggest myth: “natural means safe.” Spoiler alert: poisons can be natural, too. We’ll take a rational look—free of magical thinking and advertising hype—at “harmless” supplements and how they might interact with medications.

About the Speaker

Arseny Gusev is a psychotherapist and clinical psychologist. He uses an integrative approach, combining elements of CBT, ACT, transactional analysis, emotional-imagery therapy, and hypnotherapy. He is the author of the book Not Everyone Is Like That and the Telegram channel Trust Me, I’m a Doctor.

Event Information

• Date and time: October 5, 2026 (Monday) at 7:00 p.m.
• Cost: 1,500 RSD with advance registration (2,000 RSD without registration)
• Location: Vojvode Dobrnjca 48, Belgrade