Eating thing

[JimmyMack]

Hello all,

I have the most bizarre social phobia. I get nervous eating in front of others. This is a stupid phobia. I've had it for years but it only gets bad around Xmas period when I have family and work dinners. I eat ok all year. I can't see beyond the next week. I'm not underweight at the moment, but I'm now in a state of total anxiety. Has anyone had this or am I the only person on the planet that genuinely has it. It says on other websites that is does exist but I've never heard of anyone having it. The bizarre thing is this is my only social phobia. I have no problems talking to people, going out drinking talking with work collegues etc. I feel like I'm going to loose it. The fear is intense.

Does anyone know any good websites?
I want to take this on but the Xmas period is so stressful anyway.
This is not the time I needed to be in a panic.
What makes this worse is I live at home with parents which means its hard to hide my panic.

If this was the middle of summer I could tell the family and get it all sorted, but being at Xmas I don't want to upset the family or cause them stress.

Jimmy

 

[NunoPortugal]

Hey Jimmy!

My problem gets even worse beacuse it´s not only in Xmas but all year round...i get so anxious eating with other people,so afraid of throw up...i don´t know...

I try to avoid it all time!

This lasts for 5 or 6 years now and i think it happens because of what happened in my exgirlfriend´s house and with her parents when i was a bit nervous and must leave table to go to bathroom and throw up...i must say i drink too much the night before...

After this situation (i believe) things just got worse and ths story repeats day by day...i avoid eating in the universitiy,never had lunch there!

Anyone with this kind of behaviou/experiences??

Greets for everyone from Portugal!

 

[tewstroke]

awwwww i hate eating in front of people. it always feels like they are watching me, especially when i am at a party or some other big social event i think it's because of the nerves, i physically have difficulty eating at social events because i am nervous because i am expected to socialize so i can't eat right

 

[Septor]

Its not as abnormal as you think jimmy mack,I don't have that phobia but I have talked to a lot of people that have had your phobia.What ever you do don't think bizarre and your the only one with it.There a lot of other people that suffer the same thing.i wish the best of luck in handling your phobia man.

 

[Leithliseach]

I can bear eating in front of anyone either. As a matter of fact I cant stand doing anything while anyone is staring at me doing it. A good example is signing something at the post office. My hands shake if the person behind the counter is looking at me doing it. Bloody embarassing!

 

[LotRfan]

i hate eating out, i don't mind eating out in front of my family but in front of people i don't know. I know their not eating at the same table as me, but it's just people are still eating at other tables in the same room or restaurant as me. I get worried their looking at the way i eat, drink or pick something up. When my dad suggest eating out, i go but i hate it and i always say "Though i hope that the restaurant is not packed with people." or "No, coz it's going to be packed in there" then i spot another restaurant that is not full of people at all or one or two people and then i'm happy. But if that restaurant is the only option i'll go but i prefer to sit with my back facing the packest area of it.
I specially get nervous eating in a place full of youngesters, even though i'm one myself.
I also don't like it, coz i know that i'll have to talk to my family whilst eating, and if i don't i'm worried people are wondering why i'm not saying much. And it's coz i don't like others to hear out conversation.

 

[SilentOutlaw]

i hate eating out, i don't mind eating out in front of my family but in front of people i don't know. I know their not eating at the same table as me, but it's just people are still eating at other tables in the same room or restaurant as me. I get worried their looking at the way i eat, drink or pick something up.

i'll go but i prefer to sit with my back facing the packest area of it.

I also don't like it, coz i know that i'll have to talk to my family whilst eating, and if i don't i'm worried people are wondering why i'm not saying much. And it's coz i don't like others to hear out conversation.

My thoughts exactly. I feel the same way.

 

[GIOLANDA]

Eating in front of others is one of my worst SA fears. I just turn my back to everyone when I eat alone at University,but I've no problem if my friends are with me. Don't worry Jimmy,your fear isn't unusual,many of us have the same! And it isn't strange that you have only that disorder,you just have specific SA,not general. Good luck!

 

[Helen145]

I have a big fear of eating in front of others also....when i'm out and my parents force me to eat..i never know what to eat...the people who are around me highly influence if and what i eat

 

[frightened]

I have a phobia of eating in front of others too! I'm scared that they are looking at me while I'm eating/drinking and I get really shaky. Especially when I'm drinking, when I look up and see someone look at me, I can't get anything to go into my mouth and I just pretended that I took a sip. I really hate eating in public or with people I don't know very well. I only have a bit of trouble eating with family.

 

[blubs]

I have a phobia of eating in front of others too! I'm scared that they are looking at me while I'm eating/drinking and I get really shaky. Especially when I'm drinking, when I look up and see someone look at me, I can't get anything to go into my mouth and I just pretended that I took a sip. I really hate eating in public or with people I don't know very well. I only have a bit of trouble eating with family.

I have the same thing with drinking. I can eat in front of people..but I struggle to drink anything at all if I'm around people& do exactly the same thing where I pretend to drink! It was much worse a while ago. I found that taking control of the situation by just not accepting drinks if they're offered helped..or having a drink but not getting wound up that I couldn't drink it. It takes the pressure off a bit....which means I don't always find it so hard now. Yesterday I had 2 cokes in a busy pub without thinking about it.