If something is seriously wrong, then knowing what it is will give you and your doctor the best chance to fix it. And if it's something simple, all the better. You're under stress and struggles, that's an obvious reason for weight loss. (Or weight gain in some other people like me who stress-eat.) On the day, remember not to eat if you're supposed to be fasting, but drink enough water to be well hydrated, so they can fill the vials they need for the tests. In the meantime, don't go looking online. Everything's cancer on the internet.
this post was submitted on 22 Oct 2026
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Anxiety
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Losing weight when you’re stressed out and not eating well is pretty normal, but it’s always a good idea to get a checkup and screen for stuff once a year. I had pretty severe anxiety for years (affecting what I ate, touched, how often I felt OK leaving the house) and I can’t tell you how many health scares for things that were nothing. Even things that had the potential to be extremely scary (needing biopsies) wound up being nothing.
What finally worked for me was getting on the right medication (for me that was an SNRI instead of an SSRI); it wasn’t like it cured me overnight, but it did gradually make it so that the coping mechanisms people recommend actually started doing something for me. So if that’s something you’re open to I really highly recommend it, or trying a new medication/class of medication if it was unsuccessful for you before.
And therapy was also a game changer for me! Don’t be afraid to switch therapists if you just don’t click with them, especially as someone with anxiety you should have someone you feel comfortable opening up to.
There is no scenario where delaying treatment improves outcomes. If you know you can at least intervene
I'd rather know if something was physically wrong than be stuck not knowing. As of now, you don't know if it's something physical or just your stupid anxiety monster wreaking havoc. That said, don't be surprised when your labs aren't perfect. Persistent stress and not eating well throws off several of the usual blood tests. And tell your doc you don't want to see the results before they review them and tell you what they see. Info with no context is the worst.