Dismissed by an online psychiatrist in exactly 12 minutes. How do you deal with the imposter syndrome after a terrible appointment?

Rant

(Disclaimer: I am NOT asking for a diagnosis or medical advice, just looking to vent and hear if anyone else has dealt with a doctor like this.)

’m 18, currently on a gap year, and moving to Belgium soon. I’ve been trying to figure out some lifelong struggles before I move. My first psychologist told me I likely have Inattentive ADHD, but the official testing cost 20% of my dad’s salary(basically too much in our currency), so I had to switch doctors to see someone more affordable.

Today, I had an appointment with an online neuropsychiatrist. He showed up late and the entire call lasted exactly 12 minutes. Without really digging into my history, he told me my struggles are "just my personality" and that I'm just "seeking validation." When I tried to explain how I cry involuntarily at normal disagreements, he literally responded with, "What do you want me to say?"

I feel completely crushed and invalidated. I have real, lifelong struggles that impact my daily life:

  • I can hyperfocus for 12-15 hours on coding, but my brain completely locks up after 5-10 minutes of reading a textbook.
  • I experience intense task paralysis—I can't initiate tasks even if I genuinely want to do them.
  • I’ve had a shaking leg/restlessness since childhood.
  • My middle school teachers always gave the classic "capable but only does the bare minimum" feedback, and my family confirms I’ve struggled with emotional regulation since I was a little kid.

That 12-minute appointment completely erased the validation I felt from my first doctor. Now I’m sitting here feeling like I'm just lazy and making excuses for myself, which I know is the imposter syndrome talking, but it still hurts. I'm honestly so done with this whole process.

My question for the community: Has anyone else been dismissed this quickly by a professional? How did you advocate for yourself, and how do you shake off the feeling that you are just "making it up" after a doctor treats you like this?

Posted Aug 5, 2026, 1:30 PM UTC

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