u/Illustrious_Deer_728

19F, 5'4 / 163cm, South Asian/East African, Canada

**Primary complaint:** Loss of appetite/nausea around food, anxiety/stress, concerns about rapid mental health diagnoses
**Duration:** A few months
**Existing medical issues**: Neurodivergent, recently diagnosed with ADD and anxiety. Thalassemia minor.
**Current medications:** Jornay PM (off it now since finals are over), recently prescribed Co-Venlafaxine 37.5 mg (haven’t started yet), taking iron and b12 supplements.
**Drinking** = recreationally, **Smoking** = was semi regular currently on a T break (started \~2 weeks ago).

I’ve had a really stressful few months and I’m starting to feel overwhelmed and confused by how quickly I’m being diagnosed with things, so I wanted outside opinions.

This all started during finals season when my stress got really bad. Around that time I started having issues with food and eating. I genuinely miss food and WANT to eat, but lately I feel nauseous around meals and my appetite has been terrible. Before this, I felt like I had a healthy relationship with food.

Over the past few months, I was also diagnosed with ADD and started on Jornay PM. I’m neurodivergent, so I’m not saying the diagnosis is impossible, but it also felt very fast and unreliable to me. (It was one multiple choice quiz with less than 30 very generic questions like "Do you have trouble starting new tasks") Now, within less than 3 months, I’ve been diagnosed with multiple mental health conditions by the same doctor without seeing a psychiatrist or specialist, which is part of why I’m uncomfortable.

At my most recent appointment, I waited about an hour and a half after my scheduled time before being seen. When the doctor finally came in, I was with him for less than 10 minutes.

At first he told me to do blood work, but then checked my chart and saw I had already done it. Right after that he basically concluded “*it’s anxiety*” and explained that because I was stressed during finals, that stress is now being projected onto my relationship with food.

He then prescribed me Co-Venlafaxine 37.5 mg (Effexor) and diagnosed me with **anorexia** and **anxiety.**

What confused me was his reasoning. According to him:

1. I have trouble focusing
2. I fidget
3. I “appear sad on video” according to chart notes

But honestly, I had just waited 90 minutes to be seen and was worried about my health. I feel like most people wouldn’t look cheerful in that situation, and I don’t know why fidgeting after sitting there that long would automatically point to a disorder.

The anorexia diagnosis especially surprised me because I’ve never wanted to be extremely thin or underweight. I don’t count calories, obsessively diet, or avoid food because of body image. If anything, my body goals have always been more “slim thick” than skinny. That’s why the diagnosis feels confusing to me.

I know anxiety and stress absolutely can affect appetite, and I’m not trying to deny that something is wrong. I just genuinely don’t know if this sounds like a thorough evaluation or if I should get a second opinion before starting another medication.

I’m especially nervous about starting Venlafaxine because I’ve heard a lot about withdrawal symptoms like “brain zaps” and flu-like symptoms. I’m only 19 and want to make sure this is actually the right path before committing to it.

One more thing that made me uneasy: this same doctor “fired” my 12-year-old brother as a patient after my dad requested copies of his chart to show our uncle, who is a doctor in Tanzania.

Would really appreciate any advice or perspective, especially from anyone familiar with eating disorders, ADD diagnoses, or Venlafaxine.

19F, 5'4 / 163 cm, 98 lbs, Canada

Primary complaint: Loss of appetite/nausea around food, anxiety/stress, concerns about rapid mental health diagnoses
Duration: A few months
Existing medical issues: Neurodivergent, recently diagnosed with ADD and anxiety, thalassemia minor
Current medications: Jornay PM (stopped since finals are over), recently prescribed Co-Venlafaxine 37.5 mg (haven’t started), iron + B12 supplements
Drinking: recreationally
Smoking: semi-regular before, currently on a T-break (~2 weeks)

I’ve had a really stressful few months and I’m starting to feel overwhelmed and confused by how quickly I’m being diagnosed with things.

This started during finals season when my stress got really bad. Around then I began having issues with food and eating. I genuinely WANT to eat and miss enjoying food, but lately meals make me nauseous and my appetite has been awful. Before this, I felt like I had a healthy relationship with food.

Over the past few months I was also diagnosed with ADD and prescribed Jornay PM. I’m not saying the diagnosis is impossible, but the evaluation felt very fast and unreliable to me (one short multiple-choice questionnaire with generic questions like “Do you have trouble starting tasks?”)

Now, in less than 3 months, I’ve been diagnosed with multiple mental health conditions by the same doctor without seeing a psychiatrist or specialist, which is why I’m uncomfortable.

At my most recent appointment I waited about 90 minutes past my scheduled time, then saw the doctor for less than 10 minutes.

At first he told me to get blood work done, then checked my chart and realized I’d already done it. After that he basically concluded “it’s anxiety” and said the stress from finals was now being projected onto my relationship with food.

He then prescribed Co-Venlafaxine 37.5 mg (Effexor) and diagnosed me with anxiety and anorexia. What confused me was his reasoning. According to him:

1. I have trouble focusing 2. I fidget & 3. I “appear sad on video” according to chart notes

But honestly, I’d just waited 90 minutes, was worried about my health, and don’t think most people would look cheerful in that situation. I also don’t know why fidgeting automatically points to a disorder.

The anorexia diagnosis especially shocked me because I’ve never wanted to be extremely thin or underweight. I don’t count calories, obsessively diet, or avoid food because of body image. If anything, my body goals have always been more “slim thick” than skinny. That’s why the diagnosis feels confusing to me.

I absolutely know stress and anxiety can affect appetite, and I’m not denying something is wrong. I just don’t know if this sounds like a thorough evaluation or if I should get a second opinion before starting another medication.
I’m especially nervous about Venlafaxine because I’ve heard a lot about difficult withdrawal symptoms like brain zaps and flu-like effects. I’m only 19 and want to make sure this is actually the right path before committing to it.

One more thing that made me uneasy: this same doctor “fired” my 12-year-old brother as a patient after my dad requested copies of his chart to show our uncle, who’s a doctor in my home country.

Would really appreciate advice or perspective, especially from anyone familiar with eating disorders, ADD diagnoses, or Venlafaxine.

19F, 5'4 / 163cm, 98lbs ,Canada

Primary complaint: Loss of appetite/nausea around food, anxiety/stress, concerns about rapid mental health diagnoses
Duration: A few months
Existing medical issues: Neurodivergent, recently diagnosed with ADD and anxiety. Thalassemia minor.
Current medications: Jornay PM (off it now since finals are over), recently prescribed Co-Venlafaxine 37.5 mg (haven’t started yet), taking iron and b12 supplements.
Drinking = recreationally, Smoking= was semi regular currently on a T break (started \\\~2 weeks ago).

I’ve had a really stressful few months and I’m starting to feel overwhelmed and confused by how quickly I’m being diagnosed with things, so I wanted outside opinions.

This all started during finals season when my stress got really bad. Around that time I started having issues with food and eating. I genuinely miss food and WANT to eat, but lately I feel nauseous around meals and my appetite has been terrible. Before this, I felt like I had a healthy relationship with food.

Over the past few months, I was also diagnosed with ADD and started on Jornay PM. I’m neurodivergent, so I’m not saying the diagnosis is impossible, but it also felt very fast and unreliable to me. (It was one multiple choice quiz with less than 30 very generic questions like "Do you have trouble starting new tasks") Now, within less than 3 months, I’ve been diagnosed with multiple mental health conditions by the same doctor without seeing a psychiatrist or specialist, which is part of why I’m uncomfortable.

At my most recent appointment, I waited about an hour and a half after my scheduled time before being seen. When the doctor finally came in, I was with him for less than 10 minutes.

At first he told me to do blood work, but then checked my chart and saw I had already done it. Right after that he basically concluded “it’s anxiety” and explained that because I was stressed during finals, that stress is now being projected onto my relationship with food.

He then prescribed me Co-Venlafaxine 37.5 mg (Effexor) and diagnosed me with anorexia and anxiety.

What confused me was his reasoning. According to him:

1. I have trouble focusing
2. I fidget
3. I “appear sad on video” according to chart notes

But honestly, I had just waited 90 minutes to be seen and was worried about my health. I feel like most people wouldn’t look cheerful in that situation, and I don’t know why fidgeting after sitting there that long would automatically point to a disorder.

The anorexia diagnosis especially surprised me because I’ve never wanted to be extremely thin or underweight. I don’t count calories, obsessively diet, or avoid food because of body image. If anything, my body goals have always been more “slim thick” than skinny. That’s why the diagnosis feels confusing to me.

I know anxiety and stress absolutely can affect appetite, and I’m not trying to deny that something is wrong. I just genuinely don’t know if this sounds like a thorough evaluation or if I should get a second opinion before starting another medication.

I’m especially nervous about starting Venlafaxine because I’ve heard a lot about withdrawal symptoms like “brain zaps” and flu-like symptoms. I’m only 19 and want to make sure this is actually the right path before committing to it.

One more thing that made me uneasy: this same doctor “fired” my 12-year-old brother as a patient after my dad requested copies of his chart to show our uncle, who is a doctor in Tanzania.

Would really appreciate any advice or perspective, especially from anyone familiar with eating disorders, ADD diagnoses, or Venlafaxine.

Got diagnosed with 3 mental disorders in under 3 months & I don’t know what to think

19F, 5'4 / 163cm, 98lbs , Canada

**Primary complaint:** Loss of appetite/nausea around food, anxiety/stress, concerns about rapid mental health diagnoses
**Duration:** A few months
**Existing medical issues**: Neurodivergent, recently diagnosed with ADD and anxiety. Thalassemia minor.
**Current medications:** Jornay PM (off it now since finals are over), recently prescribed Co-Venlafaxine 37.5 mg (haven’t started yet), taking iron and b12 supplements.
**Drinking** = recreationally, **Smoking** = was semi regular currently on a T break (started \~2 weeks ago).

I’ve had a really stressful few months and I’m starting to feel overwhelmed and confused by how quickly I’m being diagnosed with things, so I wanted outside opinions.

This all started during finals season when my stress got really bad. Around that time I started having issues with food and eating. I genuinely miss food and WANT to eat, but lately I feel nauseous around meals and my appetite has been terrible. Before this, I felt like I had a healthy relationship with food.

Over the past few months, I was also diagnosed with ADD and started on Jornay PM. I’m neurodivergent, so I’m not saying the diagnosis is impossible, but it also felt very fast and unreliable to me. (It was one multiple choice quiz with less than 30 very generic questions like "Do you have trouble starting new tasks") Now, within less than 3 months, I’ve been diagnosed with multiple mental health conditions by the same doctor without seeing a psychiatrist or specialist, which is part of why I’m uncomfortable.

At my most recent appointment, I waited about an hour and a half after my scheduled time before being seen. When the doctor finally came in, I was with him for less than 10 minutes.

At first he told me to do blood work, but then checked my chart and saw I had already done it. Right after that he basically concluded “*it’s anxiety*” and explained that because I was stressed during finals, that stress is now being projected onto my relationship with food.

He then prescribed me Co-Venlafaxine 37.5 mg (Effexor) and diagnosed me with **anorexia** and **anxiety.**

What confused me was his reasoning. According to him:

1. I have trouble focusing
2. I fidget
3. I “appear sad on video” according to chart notes

But honestly, I had just waited 90 minutes to be seen and was worried about my health. I feel like most people wouldn’t look cheerful in that situation, and I don’t know why fidgeting after sitting there that long would automatically point to a disorder.

The anorexia diagnosis especially surprised me because I’ve never wanted to be extremely thin or underweight. I don’t count calories, obsessively diet, or avoid food because of body image. If anything, my body goals have always been more “slim thick” than skinny. That’s why the diagnosis feels confusing to me.

I know anxiety and stress absolutely can affect appetite, and I’m not trying to deny that something is wrong. I just genuinely don’t know if this sounds like a thorough evaluation or if I should get a second opinion before starting another medication.

I’m especially nervous about starting Venlafaxine because I’ve heard a lot about withdrawal symptoms like “brain zaps” and flu-like symptoms. I’m only 19 and want to make sure this is actually the right path before committing to it.

One more thing that made me uneasy: this same doctor “fired” my 12-year-old brother as a patient after my dad requested copies of his chart to show our uncle, who is a doctor in my home country.

Would really appreciate any advice or perspective, especially from anyone familiar with eating disorders, ADD diagnoses, or Venlafaxine.

19F, 5'4 / 163cm, 98lbs , South Asian/East African, Canada

Primary complaint: Loss of appetite/nausea around food, anxiety/stress, concerns about rapid mental health diagnoses
Duration: A few months
Existing medical issues: Neurodivergent, recently diagnosed with ADD and anxiety. Thalassemia minor.
Current medications: Jornay PM (off it now since finals are over), recently prescribed Co-Venlafaxine 37.5 mg (haven’t started yet), taking iron and b12 supplements.
Drinking = recreationally, Smoking = was semi regular currently on a T break (started ~2 weeks ago).

I’ve had a really stressful few months and I’m starting to feel overwhelmed and confused by how quickly I’m being diagnosed with things, so I wanted outside opinions.

This all started during finals season when my stress got really bad. Around that time I started having issues with food and eating. I genuinely miss food and WANT to eat, but lately I feel nauseous around meals and my appetite has been terrible. Before this, I felt like I had a healthy relationship with food.

Over the past few months, I was also diagnosed with ADD and started on Jornay PM. I’m neurodivergent, so I’m not saying the diagnosis is impossible, but it also felt very fast and unreliable to me. (It was one multiple choice quiz with less than 30 very generic questions like "Do you have trouble starting new tasks") Now, within less than 3 months, I’ve been diagnosed with multiple mental health conditions by the same doctor without seeing a psychiatrist or specialist, which is part of why I’m uncomfortable.

At my most recent appointment, I waited about an hour and a half after my scheduled time before being seen. When the doctor finally came in, I was with him for less than 10 minutes.

At first he told me to do blood work, but then checked my chart and saw I had already done it. Right after that he basically concluded “it’s anxiety” and explained that because I was stressed during finals, that stress is now being projected onto my relationship with food.

He then prescribed me Co-Venlafaxine 37.5 mg (Effexor) and diagnosed me with anorexia and anxiety.

What confused me was his reasoning. According to him:

1. I have trouble focusing
2. I fidget
3. I “appear sad on video” according to chart notes

But honestly, I had just waited 90 minutes to be seen and was worried about my health. I feel like most people wouldn’t look cheerful in that situation, and I don’t know why fidgeting after sitting there that long would automatically point to a disorder.

The anorexia diagnosis especially surprised me because I’ve never wanted to be extremely thin or underweight. I don’t count calories, obsessively diet, or avoid food because of body image. If anything, my body goals have always been more “slim thick” than skinny. That’s why the diagnosis feels confusing to me.

I know anxiety and stress absolutely can affect appetite, and I’m not trying to deny that something is wrong. I just genuinely don’t know if this sounds like a thorough evaluation or if I should get a second opinion before starting another medication.

I’m especially nervous about starting Venlafaxine because I’ve heard a lot about withdrawal symptoms like “brain zaps” and flu-like symptoms. I’m only 19 and want to make sure this is actually the right path before committing to it.

One more thing that made me uneasy: this same doctor “fired” my 12-year-old brother as a patient after my dad requested copies of his chart to show our uncle, who is a doctor in Tanzania.

Would really appreciate any advice or perspective, especially from anyone familiar with eating disorders, ADD diagnoses, or Venlafaxine.