Do you eat in public?

I am 16, and in my mind, every minute, I tell myself, "You stupid fat cow. Dont think of the word food. Dont say the word food. Dont look at food." I am now homeschooled because of Social Phobia, but when I did go to school, I didnt go anywhere near the cafeteria. I wouldnt eat at all when I was at school.
This has gotten so bad that I dont even eat in front of my own dad anymore. We will go to the corner store, and I dont want to buy chips because Im afraid he (and others) will think Im fat. At home, I dont go in the kitchen at all, because I dont want my dad to think Im fat.
Fear of eating in public is a symptom of Social Phobia. Ah, I know this was long, but I have to know: Do you eat in public? Explain why. Thanks, Kailey.

Sounds like body dysmorphic disorder or anorexia.

Eating with someone else watching in public causes me mild anxiety trying to figure out how to not look like a rude slob. Eating on my own in public is no problem at all.

Yes, fear of eating in public is a symptom of SP. It may or may not be present in social phobics. However, having only one symptom of SP is not enough to be diagnosed with SP and you may actually have another problem, as mentioned above.

You sound so much like I was.

This is more than social phobia. Its an eating disorder. You need specific help for that. And soon before it spins way out of control. I ended up getting so ill I collapsed in the street and ended up being sectioned in to a mental hospital for 8 months.

Years later I've kind of got mine under control. I do still have problems with eating especially in stressful situations or in front of people that Im not close too. Basically the only safe people for me are my immediate family and my one friend. eating in front of anyone else takes real determination, and ages. I avoid it if I possibly can. I also have image issues..my reflection or photos actually warp in front of me when I look at them. Ive learned to accept more that happens and what Im seeing isnt actually me. Its still really hard though.

i never eat alone in public, but if i have company, its not a problem.

I remember when I was 16 feeling that way too, probably because my mom had called me a fat @#$! before she died when I was 15. But i'm way more anxious now at 32 than I was at 16, probably because of all the crap that has happened to me over the last 16 years. But you are at an age where hormones are up and down, all-around and that will just make anxiety worse anyways. The good thing is that you are only a teen once, and when your grown up hopefully brain chemistry will be nicer to you. Good luck.

I remember when I was 16 feeling that way too, probably because my mom had called me a fat @#$! before she died when I was 15. But i'm way more anxious now at 32 than I was at 16, probably because of all the crap that has happened to me over the last 16 years. But you are at an age where hormones are up and down, all-around and that will just make anxiety worse anyways. The good thing is that you are only a teen once, and when your grown up hopefully brain chemistry will be nicer to you. Good luck.

I'm new to this site and this thread really caught my attention. My problem with eating in public is what led to my investigation into Social Phobia. For years I just thought it was just something weird about me.

Every time I go out to eat (with anyone, and even by myself) I have a massive stomach ache, become shaky, and have trouble keeping my breathing under control. This usually results in me either not eating at all, or eating very little and then having to excuse myself to leave so I can try to get myself under control. Needless to say, I've just stopped going out to eat.

However, I eat normally just fine (both by myself and with a few others). It seems to be the atmosphere and the expectations that come with eating out that are a problem for me.

I dated a girl with this problem. She had some serious anxiety problems, even around me behind closed doors. She wouldn't even eat if I left the room. So she would come over for the weekend and not eat a single thing. It was nuts.

As for me, I love eating out. No problem there.

I never used to eat in public, I didn't eat lunch at school for like a year, I forced myself slowly to eat in public, I can now eat fries if I am with a friend, or a simular food that isn't messy. For the first time in like years I ate a burger in public (last week)...which I know sounds crazy, but thats a big thing for me, ahaha. If I do eat in public I cover my mouth the whole time, and wipe my face after every bite....I just don't like people seeing me eat.

well I'm vegan and it's really hard to find food for me unless I cook it myself...